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
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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
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CB: 503-436-2641
Seaside: 503-738-7828
www.brucescandy.com