SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 • VOL. 40, ISSUE 20
WWW.CANNONBEACHGAZETTE.COM
COMPLIMENTARY COPY
Whale lands at Oswald West State Park
Researchers
seek cause of
humpback’s death
By Lyra Fontaine
Cannon Beach Gazette
Remains of a dead humpback
whale washed back to shore Tues-
FRIDAY EVENING: The dead
humpback whale was at fi rst just
a blip on the horizon.
day, this time at Short Sand Beach
in Oswald West State Park.
A necropsy of the 38-foot mam-
mal will likely be performed by Sea-
side Aquarium General Manager
Keith Chandler and Portland State
University researchers on Thursday,
state Park Manager Ben Cox said.
The whale is not expected to
return to sea again. “It looks like
we’re having a series of lower tides
FRIDAY NIGHT: The whale
washes ashore in Arch Cape.
and based on the current location of
the whale, we’re expecting it to re-
main in place,” Cox said.
Due to fewer visitors and cool-
er temperatures, Oregon Parks and
Recreation Department staff will
leave the whale to decay naturally.
During a busier time, staff would
likely bury it.
The whale came ashore only
2 miles south of where it was fi rst
EARLY SATURDAY MORNING:
The bloated body indicates gas
build-up from decomposition.
found on an Arch Cape beach Friday.
The whale’s stomach was initially
bloated with gas, but defl ated mid-
day Saturday, leaving stomach con-
tents and a stench that fi lled the air.
Because of tide patterns, Chandler
and Tiffany Boothe of the Seaside
Aquarium and a team of researchers
from Portland State University were
See Whale, Page 7A
EARLY SUNDAY MORNING:
The carcass was swept out to sea
sometime during the night.
TUESDAY: The whale after
beaching at Oswald West State
Park on Tuesday.
Nature to ‘take its course’
“The whale is now under
the jurisdiction of Oregon state
parks,” Ranger Ken Murphy of Or-
egon State Parks and Recreation
said Wednesday. “For right now,
because of the remote location,
we’re going to let nature take its
course as part of the ecosystem
of the North Coast.”
This weekend, Oregon State
Parks and Recreation Depart-
ment off ers an interpretative
program on humpback whales.
The event takes place Saturday
and Sunday at 1 p.m. each day
at Sand Shore beach in Oswald
West State Park.
PHOTOS, LEFT TO RIGHT, BY R.J. MARX, L.M. SMITH, R.J. MARX, SUBMITTED PHOTO
Feds get
fi re chief
claim
TRADING
PLACES
Costa Ricans visit the North Coast as part of cultural exchange
By Lyra Fontaine
New allegations
over Cannon Beach
fi ring
Cannon Beach Gazette
By Lyra Fontaine and R.J. Marx
A
s part of the annual Partners of the Americas
adult cultural exchange, 13 visitors from Costa
Rica are experiencing Oregon this month,
including the North Coast.
Both the visitors and their North Coast
hosts from Brownsmead, Astoria and Seaside came to
Cannon Beach on Sept. 9 to explore the area’s
nature and culture. Hosts introduced
the Costa Rican guests to Cannon
Beach art galleries, coffee shops
and, of course, Haystack
Rock. The group walked
to the famous landmark,
guided by Lisa Ha-
becker, education co-
ordinator from the Haystack Rock Awareness Program.
Partners of the Americas participants also visited the
Seaside Aquarium, Lewis and Clark National Histori-
cal Park and other area attractions.
Cannon Beach resident Jeanie McLaughlin, a for-
mer Spanish teacher in English as a second language,
has visited Costa Rica in 2002 and 2007 as part of the
Partners of the Americas exchange.
“It’s a wonderful organization,” she said of the
program, which was inspired by President John F.
Kennedy and aims to promote peace and understanding
between cultures.
After the coast, Costa Rican exchange participants
visited Hood River and Bend. In February, Oregonians
will take a trip to Costa Rica, McLaughlin said.
SUBMITTED PHOTO/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 97
ASTORIA, OR
A lawsuit pit-
ting former fi re
chief Mike Bal-
zer against the
Cannon Beach
Rural Fire Pro-
tection District
has been moved
to federal court
Mike Balzer
after
Balzer
raised
civil
rights claims.
The change of venue was trig-
gered by a new complaint from Bal-
zer that his federal due process and
free association rights were violated
when he was fi red last October.
The case, which had been slated
for trial in Clatsop County Circuit
Court in October, will instead be
heard next year before U.S. Magis-
trate Judge Paul Papak in U.S. Dis-
trict Court in Portland.
Balzer has alleged breach of con-
tract, wrongful discharge and def-
amation in his complaint against
the fi re district and directors Sharon
Clyde, Linda Beck-Sweeney and
Garry Smith.
In an August court fi ling, Balzer
made federal civil rights claims that
the fi re district made false statements
“for the sole purpose of embarrass-
ing and humiliating” him and fi red
him without a due-process right to a
hearing.
Balzer states in his complaint that
the board’s actions led to damages to
See Balzer, Page 3A
Costa Rican visitors and their Oregonian hosts explored Haystack Rock on Friday, Sept. 9.
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
Cannon Beach Gazette
Nonprofi ts come together at community potluck
Collaboration and
connection are key
By Lyra Fontaine
Cannon Beach Gazette
Through providing social services
to those in need, offering recreational
opportunities and enhancing local arts
and culture, the nonprofi t organizations
receiving this year’s Cannon Beach
community grants impact residents
throughout Clatsop County.
At the community grant potluck on
Thursday evening, nonprofi ts receiving
funds presented to the room that in-
cluded state Rep. Deborah Boone, City
Manager Brant Kucera, Assistant City
Manager Colleen Riggs, councilors,
parks committee members and many
others.
“I wish everyone in town could see
this,” Mayor Sam Steidel said.
The City of Cannon Beach awarded
$75,000 to 18 local and county-wide
nonprofi ts. Now in its 28th year, the
city’s community grant program re-
ceived about $113,000 in funding re-
quests. The city’s Parks and Commu-
nity Services Committee made funding
recommendations.
New recipients included the Clat-
sop Community College Foundation to
support its volunteer literacy program,
offered for Spanish-speaking residents.
The local arts scene, including the
Coaster Theatre, Cannon Beach Chorus
and Cannon Beach Arts Association,
also got a boost.
“This community just blows my
mind,” arts association program direc-
tor Jane Brumfi eld said.
The Coaster Theatre will introduce
a visual arts program later this fall.
“We would love to have kids and adults
coming together to create art,” execu-
tive director Patrick Lathrop said.
LYRA FONTAINE/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE
Former Parks and Community Ser-
vices Committee Chairwoman Barb
Knop served as emcee at the Can-
non Beach community potluck.
Cannon Beach Chorus, which
brings together 50 to 60 singers from
all over the state to perform, will use
funds for its performance series music.
Serving the community is a group
effort. The Tolovana Arts Colony
makes its space available for Coaster
Theatre play rehearsals and commu-
nity groups. The Sunset Empire Park
and Recreation District, which pro-
vides homework help and activities for
middle school students, joins forces
with Cannon Beach on events like “12
Days of Earth Day.” The South County
Community Food Bank works with the
weekly Cannon Beach food pantry.
“We could not make it in the county
without everyone’s support and collab-
oration,” said Elaine Bruce, director of
Clatsop Community Action, which ad-
dresses poverty by providing rental as-
sistance, energy assistance and a food
bank.
Event emcee and former Parks and
Community Services Chair Barb Knop
said she kept hearing the words “com-
munity” and “partnership” throughout
the presentations.
See Potluck, Page 10A