2A • March 30, 2018 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com
Gearhart, Warrenton join forces on elk
Mayors meet
with state
senator, wildlife
commissioner
By Katie Frankowicz
The Daily Astorian
Gearhart and Warrenton are
taking steps together to under-
stand and address elk herds
that appear increasingly at
home in urban areas.
Gearhart Mayor Matt
Brown and Warrenton May-
or Henry Balensifer met
March 21 with state Sen. Bet-
sy Johnson, Oregon Fish and
Wildlife Commissioner Bruce
Buckmaster and Gearhart City
Administrator Chad Sweet to
ask questions and provide in-
formation.
Both cities plan to hold town
hall-style meetings soon with
fish and wildlife biologists and
officials to review options for
sharing a landscape with elk.
Johnson hopes to coordinate
with a number of people and or-
ganizations who have a stake in
the issue to get a better sense of
the full impact the herds have
on the two communities.
She noted there are costs,
both real and social, that come
with dealing with the elk —
from the impacts on private
landowners to the resources
it takes for state agencies to
gather public input or respond
to elk-related accidents on the
highways.
“It seems to me that know-
ing the composite fiscal rami-
fications informs what all the
universe of choices might be,”
Johnson, D-Scappoose, told
the mayors during the talk at
Gearhart City Hall.
Herman Biederbeck, a wild-
life biologist for the state’s
North Coast Watershed Dis-
trict, will attend a Gearhart
City Council meeting in April
to answer questions. He and
other state fish and wildlife
representatives will also pres-
ent the council with a suite of
possible options for addressing
Gearhart’s herd of 100 or more
animals, from nonlethal possi-
JOHN DUDLEY
Elk enjoy a Gearhart backyard.
bilities like restrictive fencing
to lethal options.
The state does not have
a single recommendation,
Buckmaster said. Rather, fish
and wildlife officials want to
know what kinds of actions a
majority of Gearhart residents
would support. He assumed no
one wants to get rid of the elk
entirely.
No, the mayors replied.
They still want some elk
around.
In January, Brown wrote a
letter to Biederbeck on behalf
of the City Council express-
ing the city’s increasing con-
cern about the elk population
and included documentation
of elk encounters reported by
residents.
“The herd have become
quite placid with cars and
people,” Brown wrote. “The
City of Gearhart would like to
request more information on
how best to protect the citizens’
safety and what can be done
to ensure no one is injured or
killed by these animals.”
“This has become a serious
safety issue for our commu-
nity,” he added. “Also, many
property owners have report-
ed that elk have caused ex-
tensive damage to vegetation,
structures, exterior wiring and
equipment which presents a
danger to the elk as well.”
Gov. Kate Brown, U.S.
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici and
Johnson received copies of the
letter. Johnson says the issue is
among her top priorities.
Public opinion on the elk is
divided in Gearhart, but there
have been incidents of peo-
ple trapped in their homes or
driveways after a herd moved
near a house. There are re-
ports of people being charged
by a protective elk cow on the
beach. Gearhart Golf Links has
advocated for a trap-and-trans-
fer program. Last year, the golf
course set out plastic coyote de-
coys and sprinkled coyote urine
to try to keep elk off the greens.
Balensifer said Warrenton
hopes to also host Biederbeck
soon to provide people with
basic information about how
to live with the elk and dis-
courage them from routinely
visiting gardens and properties.
Warrenton does not deal with
nearly as many elk as Gearhart.
The City Commission also
passed a law to make it ille-
gal to feed wildlife other than
songbirds and squirrels after
some elk, used to treats from
humans, became aggressive.
There are several theories
for the elk herds’ increased
presence in the two cities: De-
velopment has encroached on
areas they used to roam; forests
have become more difficult for
the animals to traverse follow-
ing massive windstorms; few
predators or diseases to keep
herd numbers in check; and the
ready availability of food and
safety from hunters.
March 16
March 18
6:16 p.m., 1800 block Huck-
leberry: Caller asked police to
trespass a subject indefinitely.
12:34 a.m., 400 block S. Holla-
day: Police respond to a report
of a disturbance. A couple
frustrated with their teenagers
was the cause. The disturbance
was verbal in nature only.
POLICE LOG
March 9
9:50 a.m., Broadway: Police
respond to a report of an
agitated man walking towards
the library with a knife. Subject
tells police he is looking for
his sheath. Subject trespassed
from the library for a year.
11:32 a.m., Holladay Drive: A
missing person is reported.
10:21 p.m., 1700 block S. Roo-
sevelt: A person is arrested and
charged with DUII.
2:14 p.m. 200 block Avenue
N: Police responding to a call
about a domestic incident
across the street find a woman
alone, screaming. She is
warned of disorderly conduct.
4:18 p.m., Beach: A man who
reported his 9-year-old son
missing on the beach located
his child prior to police arrival.
8:07 p.m., 200 block Avenue N:
Caller reports person scream-
ing profanities from her front
door. Police advise subject to
stay inside the residence.
March 10
7:00 a.m., 800 block Avenue
F: Citizen brings to police trash
from Cannabis Nation found
on his property, including a cell
phone which was kept at the
station for safekeeping.
March 11
1:20 a.m., Bank of Pacific: A
person is arrested and charged
with DUII.
10 a.m., 400 block Avenue T:
A theft in the third degree is
reported.
A person is arrested and
charged with driving under the
influence of intoxicants.
10:34 a.m., 2000 block Spruce
Drive: A person is charged with
harassment.
10:48 p.m., Broadway and S.
Lincoln: A person is arrested
and charged with driving under
the influence of intoxicants.
5:22 p.m., 300 block Fourth Av-
enue: An assault in the fourth
degree is reported.
March 12
11:12 p.m., 500 block Broad-
way: A person is charged with
disorderly conduct.
12:47 a.m., 800 block S.
Roosevelt: Caller reports an in-
toxicated person attempting to
drive; police locate the vehicle
and perform a traffic stop.
11:40 a.m., 400 block S.
Holladay: A person is charged
with failure to perform duties
involving an animal.
2:27 p.m., S. Prom: Police
respond to a welfare check
request regarding a female
who appeared sober when
entering the establishment, but
fell off the barstool after one
drink. Caller is concerned her
companion slipped something
into her drink. Police are unable
to locate the couple described.
4:45 p.m., 400 block Avenue
U: A subject is arrested and
charged with assault, harass-
ment and disorderly conduct in
the second degree.
10:43 p.m., Convention Center:
12:52 a.m., Avenue U and Roo-
sevelt: A person is arrested and
charged with driving under the
influence of alcohol; an open
container is located inside the
vehicle.
2:33 a.m., S. Downing and Ave-
nue G: A person is arrested and
charged with driving under the
influence of alcohol after being
involved in a motor vehicle
hit-and-run.
2:33 a.m., S. Columbia and
Avenue A: A person is arrested
and charged with DUII after
being involved in a property
damage motor vehicle hit and
run.
March 13
March 14
11:56 a.m., Lewis and Clark
Way: Caller reports daughter
missing on the beach. Daugh-
ter located on the Prom with
her mother.
9:13 p.m., 800 block Avenue M:
Caller reports a disturbance in
the parking lot of an apartment
complex. Officer responding
contacts group; the person
causing the disturbance left
the area.
March 15
11:14 a.m., Avenue U Bridge:
Caller reports woman on the
bridge for hours and wander-
ing into the roadway. Subject
tells police she is waiting for a
friend. Police advise her to stay
out of the roadway.
6:34 p.m., S. Downing and
Avenue S: Police pick up a lost
dog found wandering. Dog is
later reunited with owner.
March 17
2:20 p.m., 700 block Avenue
A: Police respond to a report
of a man waving his arms and
talking to himself. Subject
refused to identify himself to
police. It was determined he
was not a danger to himself or
others. No further action was
taken.
10:07 p.m., 300 block Broad-
way: Police respond to a
disturbance; two sisters were
fighting. According to witness-
es, the altercation became
physical and one sister injured
herself while attempting to kick
her sibling. The injured party
was transported by Medix to
Providence Seaside Hospital;
the other sister was warned for
disorderly conduct and advised
to stay away from her sister for
the rest of the night.
2:59 a.m., 900 block Beach
Drive: An assault in the 4th de-
gree was reported. There was an
additional charge of disorderly
conduct in the second degree.
4:03 a.m., 1100 block Avenue
A: A person is charged with
menacing and disorderly con-
duct in the second degree.
10:39 a.m., 2000 block Fern-
wood: Police assist a parent
with a child who locked them-
selves into a room for which
the parent had no key.
March 19
1:01 a.m., Avenue C and Edge-
wood: Police respond to a report
of an intoxicated woman; they
find her and her husband sitting
on a curb. Both were highly
intoxicated. The woman said she
injured her ankle tripping on
the sidewalk. Medix responded
on scene and transferred both
people to the hospital.
OBITUARIES
Timothy “Timmy” Griffin
Jean Francis Gill
Portland
Vancouver, Washington
June 8, 1939 — March 14, 2018
Jean Francis Gill, longtime resident of Port- dening, golfing, and enjoying her 5 p.m. “me-
land, Oregon, died peacefully on Wednesday, dicinal” glass of red wine.
March 14, surrounded by her family, after living
Marty and Jean were able to spend many
the past several years with Alzheimer’s.
years of their retirement traveling abroad to-
gether, which was an adventure they
Jean is survived by her husband
of 54 years, Marty Gill; their chil-
looked forward to planning each year.
dren, Amy Rose, Susie Costa and
Jean was a devout Catholic all her
Mark Gill; and their grandchildren,
life and lived as a very kindhearted,
Matt and Hailey Rose and Jake,
compassionate, gracious, sweet wife,
Ethan, and Naomi Costa.
mother and friend, and lived these
Jean was born in Nebraska on
qualities until the end of her life.
June 8, 1939, to Wilfred and Francis
A Mass will be held to celebrate
Reifenrath. She moved to the North-
Jean’s life Thursday, April 5, at All
west to attend Marylhurst University,
Saint’s Catholic Church, 3847 N.E.
and received her degree in education.
Glisan St. in Portland, Oregon.
Jean Gill
She began her teaching career in
There will be a rosary at 10:30 a.m.,
Portland, and soon thereafter met and
followed by a Mass at 11 a.m., of-
ficiated by Marty and Jean’s family
married Marty Gill on Oct. 12, 1963.
During their 54 years of marriage, Marty friend, Monsignor Tim Murphy. Flowers or
and Jean lived life to the absolute fullest. They condolences may be sent to All Saint’s Church
raised their three children in Portland, and re- for Thursday’s service.
tired to the Oregon Coast over 15 years ago, en-
Any donations to help end Alzheimer’s
joying the home they built in Gearhart, Oregon. can be sent to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of
They also built a very strong community of America at alzfdn.org, or to Jean’s local in-
friends in Gearhart, where Jean enjoyed vol- volvement with the Seaside AAUW, Seaside
unteering with the local AAUW group, weekly AAUW Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box
walks and exercise classes with friends, gar- 693, Seaside, OR 97138.
Tim was born January 7, 1963 in San Di- that led them to where they are.
ego, California to Gerald and Patsy Griffin.
Tim is preceded in death by his parents
Sometime this past Winter he passed away and brother Joel.
Survived by brothers Michael Hawbaker
and only God knows for sure when.
In 1967 he moved with his family to Sea- of Euless, Texas; Robert Griffin of Peoria,
side, Oregon and attended school there.
Arizona; Daniel Griffin of Aloha, Oregon;
Tim enjoyed drawing, cooking,
and Jerry Griffin of Astoria, Ore-
gon.
riding his bike, and at times, he en-
joyed the company of cats. He was a
Sisters Linda Mull of Temecula,
California; Tricia Gates of Port-
talented musician who played piano,
land, Oregon; Christine Atherton of
guitar and sang — all self taught.
Portland, Oregon; and Judy Brown
Tim struggled greatly with men-
tal illness and addiction throughout
of Kettle Falls, Washington, as well
as many nieces and nephews.
much of his life and most recently,
Funeral arrangements are being
was homeless. With homelessness
made through Crown Memorial
rampant in Oregon let’s not look at
Eastside in Portland, Oregon.
them with disgust, but that there are
Rest in Peace Tim.
many Tim’s out there with a story Timothy Griffin
photo and, for veterans, a flag symbol at no
charge. The deadline for all obituaries is 9
The Seaside Signal publishes paid obit- a.m. the business day prior.
uaries. The obituary can include a small
Obituaries may be edited for spelling,
Obituary Policy
proper punctuation and style. Death notices
and upcoming services will be published at
no charge. Notices must be submitted by 9
a.m. the day of publication.
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