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About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 30, 2016)
10A • December 30, 2016 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com 2016 the Year in Review Clockwise, from top left : A tornado ripped through Manzanita in the fall, causing damage to buildings in a wide downtown swath; Boneyard Ridge was acquired by the North Coast Land Conservancy; Doug Dougherty and Tom Horning at the site of a new Seaside High School campus; Jessica Smith appears in court before pleading guilty to ag- gravated murder and attempted ag- gravated murder of her children; A whale washed up ashore before fi nal- ly settling at Oswald West State Park. DANNY MILLER/EO MEDIA GROUP Changes that marked an eventful year within the city-owned RV Resort and munici- pal code changes — proposals that will require future public hearings. Some residents near the RV Resort expressed concerns. By Lyra Fontaine Cannon Beach Gazette F rom major conservation achievements to the return of the namesake cannon, below are some of the top stories from 2016. In the past year, Cannon Beach also mourned the death of beloved resident John Fraser, remained unscathed from a torna- do that caused major damage in Manzanita, ap- proved a $99.7 million bond to relocate Seaside School District schools outside of the tsunami zone, and witnessed a humpback whale wash- ing ashore — twice. Changes at City Hall A citizen initiative to prohibit retail marijuana shops in Cannon Beach was narrowly defeated in November. The city will be able to approve rec- reational marijuana business licenses on Jan. 6. Two fresh faces were elected to the City Council, for- mer Cannon Beach Gazette editor Nan- cy McCarthy and previous Planning Nancy Commission Chair Brandon Ogilvie McCarthy Brandon Ogilvie. Melissa Cadwallad- er and Wendy Higgins fi nished their terms. In August, the City Council adopted the city’s fi rst strategic plan. The city’s top focus is affordable housing, with goals that include add- ing 25 units by 2018. Offi cials also prioritized infrastructure planning and maintenance, emer- gency management, relationship with the com- munity and effective government. While coun- cilors and staff said the plan provides direction and city accountability, some residents said the plan did not involve suffi cient community input. Jessica Smith murder trial ends In August, Jessica Smith was sentenced to life in prison for drowning her toddler, Isabella, and slashing her teenager, Alana, at the Cannon Beach Surfsand Resort in July 2014. The Van- couver, Washington woman pleaded guilty and will serve a minimum of 40 years in prison for aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder. The murder rattled Cannon Beach, which had not had a homicide for almost 50 years. Police Chief Jason Schermerhorn and former Assistant Fire Chief Frank Swedenborg were the fi rst to respond to the Surfsand Resort room. Aff ordable housing plan adopted In Cannon Beach, a plan to create more housing for year-round employees is underway. The City Council adopted the city’s affordable housing task force report in December. The plan recommends placing park model homes Controversial development plan approved After more than a year of facing opposition from a 70-member citizens group and denials by the Planning Commission, Cannon Beach property owner Jeff Nicholson earned fi nal conditional approval in March from the City Council for his four-lot residential development plan on Laurel Street. Ten residents challenged the council’s decision by fi ling an appeal with the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals, but the board denied that the fi nal plan lacked suf- fi cient detail, veered from the approved prelim- inary plan and lacked a development schedule. NCLC celebrates 30th anniversary, acquires connecting lands The North Coast Land Conservancy celebrat- ed 30 years of conserving the Oregon coastal landscape in August. In July, after about fi ve years of work by staff and volunteers, the conservancy acquired the 340-acre Boneyard Ridge on Tillamook Head for $1.3 million, linking 3,500 acres of con- served areas. The conservancy plans to turn the former commercial tree farm into a high-func- tioning temperate rainforest. In November, the land trust took the fi rst steps toward purchasing 3,300 acres of timberland at Onion Peak. The acquisition would be the largest private land preservation deal in western Oregon. The conservancy will work to raise funds for the purchase, which will cost about $10 million over fi ve years. SEASIDE Providence Seaside Hospital Rite Aid Safeway Seaside Outlet Center Seaside Signal/Cannon Beach Gazette Office GEARHART Windermere Stellar Real Estate 4,000 COPIES DISTRIBUTED EACH MONTH Elaine Trucke and Matt Powers unveil the historic capstan, which accompanies the can- non that gives Cannon Beach its name. Holiday Shopping is Simple & SWEET!! CANNON BEACH Picnic Basket Pig ‘N Pancake Purple Moon/Morris’ Fireside Restaurant RE/MAX Coastal Advantage Sea Ranch RV Park Sea Sprite at Haystack RockSea Sprite on the Estuary Surfcrest Market Sweet Basil’s Cafe & The Wine Bar The Land’s End Motel The Ocean Lodge The Stephanie Inn The Waves Motel Tolovana Inn US Bank/La Luna Loca Windermere Stellar Real Estate The eponymous cannon returned to the Cannon Beach History Center and Museum af- ter four years of being restored in Texas, then stored at the Columbia River Maritime Muse- um. The iron cannon and capstan are thought to be from the decking of the USS Shark, a U.S. naval schooner that went down in the Columbia River in 1846. FILE PHOTO In April, the Cannon Beach Children’s Center closed after 39 years due to declining enrollment and fi nancial troubles. Classic Assorted Chocolate Boxes & Custom or Prepacked Candy Baskets! All the traditional treats of the holidays, plus SO much more! AZETTE CANNON BEACH Cannon Beach Bakery Cannon Beach Book Company Cannon Beach Beach Store Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce Cannon Beach City Hall Cannon Beach Conference Center Cannon Beach Family Market Cannon Beach Historical Center Cannon Beach Hotel Cannon Beach Liquor Store Cannon Beach Property Management Cannon Beach RV Resort Cannon Beach Vacation Rentals Cascade Sotheby’s Realty Duane Johnson Real Estate Ecola Creek Lodge EVOO Hallmark Inns & Resorts Inn at Cannon Beach Inn at Haystack Rock Mariner Market Martin Hospitality Mo’s Restaurant Cannon returns to town Children’s center closes, academy approved OF PLACES YOU CAN PICK UP A COMPLIMENTARY COPY OF THE LOTS G Despite not opening this fall as planned, due to the district withdrawing conditional support in March, the Cannon Beach Academy per- severed and is slated to open in fall 2017. The academy received unconditional approval by the Seaside School District in October. In ear- ly 2017, the academy will begin the process of hiring staff and administrators, and enrollment could open in March. • 2 LOCATIONS • (Easy & Convenient) Downtown Cannon Beach 256 N. Hemlock St & Seaside Outlet Mall WE CAN SHIP CANDY DIRECTLY TO YOU! CB: 503-436-2641 Seaside: 503-738-7828 www.brucescandy.com
