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About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 23, 2016)
September 23, 2016 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 9A Cannon Beach torn over school purchase Elementary school closed because of safety concerns Roden’s death penalty trial could last up to two months By Kyle Spurr EO Media Group Clatsop County’s fi rst death penalty trial in 15 years started last week in Circuit Court. Randy Lee Roden, 28, is on trial for allegedly murdering his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter and abusing her two sons while they all lived together in a Seaside apartment. The gruesome scene discovered in December 2014 is de- scribed as among the worst child-abuse cases in the county. By Lyra Fontaine Cannon Beach Gazette For sale: Former school property in a tsunami zone . To build or renovate. C ity councilors are close to deciding whether or not to purchase the former elementa- ry school that closed in 2013 due to student safety concerns . The property , which is owned by the Seaside School District, is on the north end of town, south of Ecola Creek and about one-fourth of a mile from the ocean. While most of the campus is unusable, the gymnasium offers promise for future com- munity activities like concerts and other events. “The bottom line is the building is in pretty good shape,” said City Manager Brant Kucera, noting the harsh weather the gymnasium has endured. “That is good news if you’re looking to save and restore that building.” An August report from Amodeo Structural Engineer- ing on the gymnasium was delivered to the City Council earlier this week. According to the assess- ment, the wood-framed gym , built in the early 1950s, ap- pears to be in good condition. The observations “did not reveal any locations of signif- icant damage, distress, deteri- oration, dry rot or excessive defl ection,” the engineering report stated. Coaster Construction gen- eral contractor John Nelson quickly walked through the gymnasium on behalf of the city to roughly estimate the cost of making it habitable and up to code . The cost of interior and exterior renova- tions, including a 25 percent contingency, would be about $371,000. “We know very rough- ly what it would potentially Seaside toddler murder trial up Evidence SUBMITTED PHOTO/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE An engineering analysis showed the former Cannon Beach Elementary School gymnasium is in good structural condition. cost,” Kucera said. “It’s yet another thing for you to con- sider as we move forward with this.” The $450,000 cost to purchase the property, and $250,000 to demolish the building and restore the lawn, were included as placehold- ers in the city budget. Instead of demolition , restoring the gymnasium could be an op- tion. The estimate does not in- clude other costs, such as operating the building, add- ing restrooms and making aesthetic improvements. Op- erating costs could be about $50,000 a year. “For this project, I would envision probably spending the contingency plus, ” Public Works Director Dan Grassick said. Despite costs and the building’s location in the tsu- nami zone, Kucera said there might be value in investing in the space for the community. Mayor Sam Steidel said the city could decide what to do with the gymnasium after purchasing the property. Councilors, who should decide by the end of the year, discussed how the building could become a viable asset for the city and the possibility of residents raising funds for a project . “Once it becomes occupia- ble, then you have the poten- tial for fundraising,” Steidel said. The District Attor- ney’s Offi ce believes it has enough physical evidence and expert opinion to con- nect the crimes to Roden. The state will present evi- dence showing the 2-year- old, Evangelina Wing, and her brothers were tortured, burned, bitten and caged in the Seaside apartment their mother, Dorothy Wing, shared with Roden. Evangelina Wing appar- ently died of battered child syndrome with blunt force trauma to her head. Blood spatter was found in almost every corner of the apart- ment, staining holiday dec- orations and the wall behind a Christmas tree. Roden’s defense is that he did not commit the crimes. His lawyer, Conor Huseby, is adamant that someone else is to blame, possibly the children’s mother. Dorothy Wing, 26, pleaded guilty in January to fi rst-degree manslaughter and two counts of fi rst-de- gree criminal mistreatment. She was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison, con- tingent on her truthfully tes- tifying at Roden’s trial. Witnesses Roden’s trial could last up to two months. Trial days will be Tuesday through Fri- day, with occasional time off of those days if a session fi nishes early or the court has an emergency hearing in another case. Multiple witnesses for the prosecution and defense will testify . Many are trav- eling from Georgia, where Roden grew up. The prosecution will call two of Roden’s ex-girl- friends, who can detail a pattern of violence against women and children. One ex-girlfriend, who dated Roden from March to July 2014, will testify that Roden was very controlling with her and the children, threatened to move out and warned he would commit suicide in order to control her behavior, according to court documents. Roden is serving an eight-year prison sentence for violating probation from a domestic violence convic- tion in 2013 Roden, accord- ing to Chief Deputy District Attorney Ron Brown in a court document. Th e art of Stirling Gorsuch On Saturday, Oct. 8, at 6 p.m., Stirling Gorsuch’s exhibit “Oregon Visions” debuts at the Cannon Beach History Center and Museum. Gorsuch is a Cannon Beach native. The exhibit will be on display through November. The pieces for “Oregon Visions” span the last few years of his work, which was inspired by the land- scapes of Oregon. x The museum is open from 1 to 5 p.m., Wednes- day through Monday at 1387 South Spruce St. For more information about this exhibit visit cbhisto- ry.org, or call 503-436- 9301. MONTHLY LECTURE SERIES History and Hops tells saga of Seaside The next History & Hops Lecturer Esther Moberg free local history lecture is the Seaside Public Library takes place Thursday, Sept. director. She grew up in As- 29, at 6 p.m. at Seaside Brew- toria and has a master’s de- ing Co., 851 Broadway. gree in library science and Attendees will be trav- a bachelor’s degree in orga- eling back through the ages nization administration. to 100 years ago, circa early She has accumulated 1900s, as the program skims more than 16 years’ expe- the headlines from bygone rience through her work in Esther Moberg six public, school, and ac- days in Seaside. The saga of Seaside, from ademic libraries. Moberg its humble beginnings as east and west is the current vice chair of the Or- Seaside will be told through anecdotal egon Digital Library Consortium. history and headlines from the Seaside History & Hops is a monthly se- Signal and Seaside Historical Society. ries of local history discussions hosted by One hundred years ago, the talk of the Seaside Museum at Seaside Brewing the town ran the gamut from bear-hunt- Co. For more information, contact Steve ing and trash-dumping to ladies’ “so- Wright, President, Seaside Museum, at ciable and genteel entertainment.” 503-738-7065 or 503-984-5324. If you go SUBMITTED PHOTO Miss Clara Gilman as librarian (behind the desk), circa 1919 in the old soldiers and sailors club reading room. Pelican Brewing Company is NOW HIRING YEAR ROUND POSTIONS Subscribe to the Cannon Beach Gazette. Hosts, Bussers, Servers Line Cooks & Dishwashers Get the Gazette mailed to your home every other week for as little as $40.50 for the entire year.* Call 800-781-3211 and begin your subscription today. 190-08162016 Tip Share, Medical Benefi ts, 401K Savings Plan *Rate good for mail delivery within Clatsop County only. Rate for delivery outside Clatsop County is $58.00 annually. Ask about our digital-only rate of $30.00. APPLY IN PERSON ANYTIME AT: 1371 SW Hemlock, Cannon Beach OR SEND YOUR RESUME TO: Employment@Pelicanbrewing.com www.yourlittlebeachtown.com/employment WHAT: History & Hops free local history lecture WHERE: Seaside Brewing Co., 851 Broadway WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 29, at 6 p.m. COST: Free CALL: Steve Wright, President, Sea- side Museum, at 503-738-7065 or 503-984-5324 History & Hops is a monthly series of local history discussions hosted by the Seaside Mu- seum at Seaside Brewing Co. CANNON BEACH LIBARY F ALL F ESTIVAL Saturday, September 24 th 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM • S HOP F OR • Handmade Crafts Yummy Baked Goods Local Merchant Gift Certificate Drawing Quilt Drawing Hotel Stay Silent Auction 131 N. Hemlock St. • Cannon Beach 503-436-1391
