VOL. 42, ISSUE 21 WWW.CANNONBEACHGAZETTE.COM ‘It’s a community tradition … kind of a family event. It’s neat to witness that every year.’ Lt. Brian Smith, a firefighter and president of the Cannon Beach Fire and Rescue Volunteer Association OCTOBER 19, 2018 A city divided Council hopes for a May bond, but is at odds over location of new City Hall By Brenna Visser Cannon Beach Gazette The City Council wants to ask voters in May to approve a bond that would pay for a new City Hall. In a work session last week, city council- ors shared their vision of what they would like to see: More flexible work spaces. Bet- ter technology. Environmentally sustain- able systems. Seismically safe construction. But on one critical detail, the council remains divided — where exactly to put it. The council is considering rebuilding City Hall on Gower Street or building on the 55-acre undeveloped property known as South Wind that sits above the tsunami in- undation zone. The decision could mean the difference of millions of dollars on the proj- ect’s price tag or the chance to usher in the first stages of development on a property meant to keep critical services above water. To help decide, SRG, a Portland-based architecture firm, will evaluate the benefits and downsides of each location, as well as the estimated cost, in a report expected to be published in December. See City Hall, Page 6A PHOTOS BY BRENNA VISSER/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE Volunteers Lolly Rahl and Lilly Morris work together to carry out dinner plates to guests at the 71st annual Ham Dinner. CANNON BEACH BUNNIES ‘Kind of a family event’ No easy solution 71st annual Ham Dinner raises funds for Cannon Beach firefighters City limited in options to control population By Brenna Visser By Brenna Visser Cannon Beach Gazette Cannon Beach Gazette A bout 400 came to enjoy plates of ham, yams and green beans at the 71st annual Volunteer Firefighters Ham Dinner on Saturday at the Cannon Beach Christian Conference Center. Between those who sat and dined and the 150 take-out orders, the Cannon Beach Fire and Rescue Volunteer Association raised about $30,000, said Lt. Brian Smith, a firefighter and president of the association. Smith said the association plans to use the mon- ey to update older emergency medical services equipment and agining extracation tools. Smith said it was great to see local fifth graders volunteer to serve the dinners and watch the com- munity come together. “I was serving when I was fifth grade,” Smith said. “It’s a community tradition … kind of a family event. It’s neat to witness that every year.” Fire Chief Matt Benedict said the event was a great opportunity to talk to the public about what the expect from the fire district, as well as educate residents more about the fire levy that failed in Sep- tember. “Hearing everyones thoughts and concerns will help with our five-year strategic planning,” Bene- dict said. TOP Jim Blumeau slices ham at the 71st annual Ham Dinner. BOTTOM Allison Johnson prepares salads at the dinner. The event benefits Cannon Beach’s volunteer firefighters. Curbing a growing bunny population may be more complicated than city officials anticipated. Last month, residents in Tolovana asked the city to address a bunny infestation they claim is destroying gardens and blanketing yards with thick layers of rabbit pellets. Since then, the city has researched ways to possibly handle the population, but has found the fluffy “Tolovana bunnies” appear to slip between the cracks of almost every state and local agency. “Nobody is in charge of bunnies,” City Manager Bruce St. Denis said. Because they are feral, the bunnies have no classifications or protections under the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, spokeswoman Michelle Dennehy said. They aren’t considered livestock, so the Department of Agriculture doesn’t claim them, either. “If they were brush rabbits, ODFW would be involved,” St. Denis said. It was against fish and wildlife’s code for the bunnies to be released into the wild, Dennehy said, and so there is no place the city can legally relocate them. PAID PERMIT NO. 97 ASTORIA, OR PRSRT STD US POSTAGE See Rabbits, Page 7A From Pelican Brewing to prime time Manzanita woman breaks through in music By Brenna Visser Cannon Beach Gazette BRENNA VISSER Anica Stemper works at Pelican Brew- ing in Cannon Beach and is a musician. MANZANITA — Music was never supposed to be Anica Stemper’s career. Whenever she had a free moment growing up, she was most likely singing, playing around on the piano or plucking at her guitar. She has always loved music, but figured her songwriting would al- ways stay a hobby. So it’s surreal for the Manzanita resident to hear her own music on television shows. “It’s really cool, honestly,” Stemper said. “There’s a sense of accomplishment, for sure, knowing I’ve gotten this far.” But before entering the entertainment industry, the Southern California native was set to follow her other passion at San Diego State University: writing. “I thought I’d get sick of (music) if I pursued it as a career,” she said. See Stemper, Page 7A INSIDE DANCING WITH THE STARS ‘Dancing with the Clatsop County Stars’ raises funds for The Harbor to aid survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. PAGE 10 JAIL BOND Studies highlight a need for more jail beds, but a proposed new jail competes for mon- ey with schools and recreation. PAGE 2 OP-ED: Clatsop County’s district attorney, Joshua Marquis, speaks out in favor of Measure 4-195. PAGE 5