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.
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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