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About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 2017)
January 27, 2017 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 3A Former fire chief Balzer gets $55,000 in settlement with fire district, board Lawsuit had alleged civil rights violations By R.J. Marx Cannon Beach Gazette Former Cannon Beach Fire Chief Mike Balzer will receive a one-time payout of $55,000 from the Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District and the district’s board of directors. Details of the settlement, prepared by attorneys for Bal- zer, the fire district and the board of directors, were re- leased Wednesday. According to the agree- ment, Balzer will not receive attorneys’ fees or any addition- al compensation from the fire district. Balzer agrees he will not apply or accept employ- ment from the fire department again, and agrees not to pursue future litigation against the fire district or board of directors. The settlement was dated Dec. 13. Balzer’s civil rights lawsuit against the fire district was dismissed by U.S. Magis- trate Judge Paul Papak in Port- land on Jan. 4. “My only comment would EO MEDIA GROUP/FILE PHOTO Mike Balzer, left, served as fire chief from 2012 to October 2015. ‘The lawsuit itself is the end of any dispute between Mr. Balzer and the Cannon Beach Rural Fire District.’ Judy Snyder, Balzer’s attorney be to express that the settle- ment is not an admission of fault to either side, but more a business decision based on the costs of litigation moving for- ward, not just for the district but for Mr. Balzer, as well,” said Ron Downs, an attorney with the Special Districts As- sociation of Oregon who rep- resented the fire district and members of the board of di- rectors. Earlier this week, Balzer’s attorney Judy Snyder said the former chief was “pleased with the resolution.” “He’s pleased he’s engaged in this process and that it re- sulted in a satisfactory out- come for him,” Snyder said. Balzer was fired in October 2015 in what the fire district’s board described as a “person- nel matter.” Balzer, who earned more than $100,000 in annual salary and compensation, was faulted for “poor leadership” in a per- formance evaluation. Balzer stated in his com- plaint that the board’s actions led to damages to his reputa- tion and standing in the com- munity. He had sought com- pensation of almost $678,000 and reinstatement of his duties and benefits. “The lawsuit itself is the end of any dispute between Mr. Balzer and the Cannon Beach Rural Fire District,” Snyder said this week. Serial hotel robber sentenced to 10 years Held up hotel at gunpoint By Jack Heffernan EO Media Group A serial robber who held up a Cannon Beach hotel at gunpoint was sentenced Tuesday, Jan. 17, to 10 years in prison. Ernest Lee Dean, 44, pointed a handgun at hotel clerk Orlo Baldwin at the Stephanie Inn in January 2014 and forced him to hand over almost $7,000 in cash. After ordering Baldwin to lay on his stomach, Dean zip-tied Baldwin’s hands be- hind his back and left him on the floor. Baldwin, an el- derly man, testified Tuesday in Clatsop County Circuit Court that he was scared for his life, but that Dean gave him a reassuring pat on the back before leaving. “The defendant, with great humanity, patted me on the back as if to say, ‘It’ll be OK old man,’” Baldwin said. “I hold no animosity toward him.” Baldwin left the court- room soon after testifying, but Dean said later — while not fully ad- mitting to the crime — that he had “un- conditional empathy” for Baldwin. Ernest Lee Dean, Dean who was arrested in Portland in February 2014 after an investigation that involved police in Cannon Beach, was responsible for an armed robbery spree at sever- al hotels and is serving a 25- year prison sentence handed down in Multnomah County. Judge Paula Brownhill ruled that Dean’s 10-year sentence for the Cannon Beach robbery will be add- ed to the Multnomah County penalty. Dean was convicted of first-degree robbery, sec- ond-degree kidnapping and felon in possession of a fire- arm. “Based on the facts of the case, it is clear the defen- dant’s intent was to commit more than one offense, and the defendant created a risk of qualitatively different harm or injury to the victim,” Deputy District Attorney Steve Chamberlin wrote in a sentencing memorandum. CANNON BEACH POLICE LOG Jan. 8 5:08 a.m., Highway 26: Police assist a woman who believes she is endan- gered. It is determined the woman is under the influence of a controlled substance; she is transported to Providence Seaside Hospital for evaluation. 7:19 p.m., 200 block Beaver Street: Criminal mischief in the second degree is reported at the school building where the gym door Plexi- glass window has been broken. The building is secured by a maintenance worker and the school district office is notified. 8:23 p.m., 7900 block Cannon Road: During a follow up on a domestic dis- turbance, one individual is arrested by the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office and charged with domestic assault. Jan. 9 7:00 a.m., 1600 block Whispering Pines Drive: Cannon Beach police assist other agencies at the stand- off in Seaside. 7:04 a.m., 1100 block Spruce Court: Police respond to a complaint of a coyote getting into garbage in a res- idential neighborhood. Prior to their arrival, they come upon a coyote who was apparently struck and killed by a vehicle. Its body is removed from the highway. after the shooter barricades himself inside the residence. Jan. 10 11:38 p.m., 200 block S. Holladay Drive, Seaside: Cannon Beach police assist Seaside police with a suicidal subject at a neighborhood market. Subject volunteers to go to Provi- dence Seaside Hospital. 9:17 p.m., Haystack Parking: Subject is warned about illegal overnight camping. 10:41 p.m., Highway 101: Police con- duct a field interview with a man ob- served walking south on the beach who told police he was being picked up by a woman driver. The two are advised about recent break-ins in the area and of the parking regulations. Jan. 12 Jan. 11 3:44 a.m., 100 block Elliot Way: Police respond to a physical disturbance where a child is present. Female subject is arrested for assault. 4:21 p.m., 1600 block Whispering Pines, Seaside: Cannon Beach police assist with active shooter situation 7:17 p.m., 100 block Sunset Boule- vard: A small black and gray terrier found wandering in the location of Coastal Advantage 503.436.1777 • Coastal Advantage.com Alaina Giguiere Marty Giguiere Owner/Principal Broker c: 503.440.3202 f: 877.812.1126 e: alainagiguiere@mac.com Owner/Broker c: 503.440.7676 o: 503.43t6.1777 e: mr007@pacifi er.com Maryann Sinkler Broker c. 503.440.9280 e: maryanns@remax.net the American Legion is subsequently returned to its owner charged with DUI. Jan. 14 Jan. 13 12:00 a.m., 1300 block Alder Drive: Police respond to a domestic verbal dispute. Both parties agree to sepa- rate for the night. 10:14 p.m., 800 block S. Roosevelt Drive, Seaside: Police dealing with an intoxicated man with a bloodied face at the Stop ‘n Go in Seaside first contact Medix who treats the man before transporting him to Provi- dence Seaside Hospital. 11:48 p.m., Highway 101 and N. Cannon: A juvenile is arrested and 6:54 p.m., Highway 101 and N. View- point: Police assist two subjects who have a flat tire. 7:13 p.m., 1200 block S. Hemlock: A motor vehicle hit-and-run is reported after one vehicle backs into another and leaves the scene. Police locate the driver of the vehicle which did the damage and suggest a civil res- olution. 9:34 p.m., Ecola Park: Police assist in a search and rescue effort of a hiker believed lost on Tillamook Head. 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