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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 24, 2020)
Friday, January 24, 2020 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com • A3 Vigil held for family in Falcon Cove tragedy By NICOLE BALES The Astorian MANZANITA — Nearly 100 people attended a vigil at the Hoffman Center for the Arts on Wednesday, Jan. 15, for the two children washed into the ocean at Fal- con Cove over the weekend. Oregon State Police said Jeremy Stiles, 47, of Port- land, was holding his chil- dren on the shore when they were caught by a wave that pulled them into the water. Stiles’ 7-year-old daugh- ter, Lola, was pronounced dead at Providence Seaside Hospital and his 4-year-old son, William, is still missing. According to a GoFundMe page set up for the family, Stiles is recover- ing from hypothermia. In a Facebook message Wednesday, Jan. 22, Jamie Stiles, the children’s mother, thanked people for “provid- ing light to my dark days.” “Words cannot express how grateful I am for the outpouring of love and sup- port to my family,” she wrote. “I am not OK right now but am in treatment and will reach my new nor- mal someday soon. I have read every single comment and message sent our way and feel like each one adds a tiny drop of glue to my com- pletely shattered heart. “I know Lola and Wil- liam are surrounding us with their beautiful energy as we navigate a path to peace and healing.” Claudia Johnson, of Nehalem, spoke at the vigil prior to a moment of silence. She said she called Ves- tal Elementary School, the school Lola attended in Port- land, to tell them about the vigil and learn more about the girl and her family. The Volunteer planting at Circle Creek Seaside Signal For the past three sum- mers, volunteers with North Coast Land Con- servancy have been work- ing to eradicate invasive policeman’s helmet (Impa- tiens glandulifera) growing on the banks of the Neca- nicum River at NCLC’s Circle Creek Conservation Center in Seaside. On Wednesday, Feb. 5, volunteers will return to Circle Creek to plant native trees in shrubs in gaps left by removal of the weed. Before NCLC part- nered with the Necani- cum Watershed Council to weed out policeman’s helmet, this exotic plant had spread widely along the Necanicum River and its tributaries. By planting spruce, hemlock, alder and ninebark along the river, NCLC hopes to discourage policeman’s helmet from growing back. This volunteer stew- ardship event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volun- teers should wear gloves and work boots and bring water and snacks or lunch; there are no toilets or pota- ble water at the site. BUSINESS Hailey Hoff man/The Astorian A photo of the Stiles family and a bowl of fl oating candles sits on the table on a stage at the vigil. school decided to also hold a vigil for the children on Thursday. Johnson showed a glimpse of what the family is like through descriptions Vestal’s principal, Sabrina Flamoe, shared with her. “Every morning, the mom and the grandma would bring coffee and pas- tries because she owns a bakery. And so they would bring Lola to school and the little 4-year-old, William, would come with, and she said he would come fl ying, literally, into the room ... that he would just bring such joy and that they were really great kids,” Johnson said. She described them as generous people. “We don’t need to know the family, and we don’t,” Johnson said. Several people who work with Jamie Stiles attended the vigil. Hailey Hoff man/The Astorian Claudia Johnson, from Nehalem, speaks about the deaths of two children in Falcon Cove and the impact it had on the community. One of her co-workers, Vineeta Lower, of Seaside, tearfully asked if she could share a few words. Lower and Stiles work at Oregon Virtual Academy, an online charter school, where Stiles is an administrator. “Jamie is an incredible, incredible woman. She is the sweetest, kindest person you will ever meet. And she loved those children through every fi ber in her being,” said Lower, an educator who ran unsuccessfully for state House in 2018 . “They were deeply, deeply, deeply, deeply loved and I just want to make sure you guys know that.” Jason Isbell, of Clats- kanie, has worked with Stiles for over six years. Isbell and others said when they found out the family they were hearing about on the news was the Stiles’ family, they imme- diately went to hug their children. “As a dad, I hurt for Jer- emy,” Isbell said, his arm around his daughter. “When I read the news I went and grabbed her and held her for like an hour.” Directory FLOORING CCB# 205283 Luxury vinyl planks and tile. you walk on our reputation Flooring Installation 3470 Hwy 101 Suite 102 • Gearhart, Oregon 503.739.7577 • carpetcornergearhart.com FLOORING Randall Lee’s 0% FINANCING AVAILABLE Window Treatments, Fabric, Designer Wallpaper, Counter Tops, All Flooring and Miele Vacuums Visit Our Outlet! Randall Lee’s Seaside • 2311 N. 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On the group’s Facebook event page, as of Jan. 7, 936 people have said they will go to the protest, more than 3,100 have marked them- selves as interested and 97 have pledged to drive semi-trucks. “We want to stop cap and trade,” said Adam Lardy, a Timber Unity spokesman. “Politicians may want to run with a watered-down ver- sion this year. But once they get a foothold, why wouldn’t they run with it? So we can’t let them get a foothold.” Last year Timber Unity formed to protest House Bill 2020, last year’s cap-and- trade bill, which passed the Oregon House. The legisla- tion was designed to cut car- bon emissions, but it roused opposition from farmers, loggers and others who argued the bill would raise fuel and natural gas prices. The protests culminated with the walk-out of Senate Republicans, infl aming party tensions. The bill stalled in the Senate at the end of the session when it failed to gain adequate support. Accord- ing to Harry Esteve, com- munications manager for the Oregon Department of Envi- ronmental Quality, it’s too early to know the specifi cs of a renewed cap-and-trade proposal. Kate Kondayen, dep- uty communications direc- tor for Gov. Kate Brown, said the governor is focused on an economy-wide strat- egy with enforceable car- bon limits. Kondayen said Brown plans to “ensure the bill protects jobs and liveli- hoods in rural communities” B oB M c E wan c onstruction , inc . E xcavation • u ndErground u tiitiEs r oad w ork • F ill M atErial s itE P rEParation • r ock owned and operated by M ike and C eline M C e wan 503-738-3569 34154 Hwy 26, Seaside, OR P.O. Box 2845, Gearhart, OR S erving the p aCifiC n orthweSt S inCe 1956 • CC48302 LANDSCAPING YAR D D E B R I S D R O P -O F F ( no S cot ch B room) • Laurelwood Compost • Soil Amendments • Planting MacMix • Mulch 503-717-1454 34154 HIGHWAY 26 SEASIDE, OR Laurelwood Far m TIRES/WHEELS DEL’S O.K. TIRE Sierra McClain/Capital Press Representatives of the Timber Unity movement organized massive protests at the Oregon Capitol in Salem last year against climate legislation. The organization is planning to protest a new climate change proposal that will be considered during the upcoming legislative session. while still achieving state emissions goals. “Doing nothing is not an option,” said Kondayen. Although Timber Unity formed to protest HB 2020, the movement has ballooned into something bigger. “The movement is shift- ing,” said Lardy, the spokes- man. “We’re fi ghting over- regulation. We’re fi ghting laws that kill jobs and com- munities. It’s not just about cap and trade anymore.” The movement bears resemblance to the “yellow vests” in France, a grassroots citizens’ campaign that started as a fuel tax protest and has morphed into a nationwide anti-government movement aimed at economic justice for the working-class. Timber Unity also echoed a global trend. In what experts have dubbed the Global Pro- test Wave of 2019, demon- strations erupted in the Arab world, France, Catalonia, Hong Kong, Latin Amer- ica and beyond. According to the United Nations, dem- onstrators around the world sought autonomy, freedom from political corruption and economic fairness. As Timber Unity’s ranks swell in 2020, its leaders say they are determined to keep protests peaceful. “I’m an Army wife. I stood up for Gov. Brown when she walked into our caucus room,” said Julie Parrish, a former state leg- islator and current board member for Timber Unity. “It’s about respect. If any policymaker will speak with us, we’ll take the meeting.” The movement’s success, said Parrish, also depends on how protesters treat one another. Parrish said the Timber Unity movement is far from homogenous. “We’re a voting bloc of over 50,000 people now, and we’re not all politically the same,” said Parrish. “I don’t own a gun or hunt or fi sh. Some people are pro-choice, some pro-life. Some are hell-bent on electing Trump, and others would never vote for him.” She laughed. “It makes managing the dialog inter- esting sometimes. But we’re trying to focus on common ground — economic issues.” Timber Unity’s fi nan- cial muscle comes from its donors, both through direct giving and in-kind donations. The group fi led as a 501c(6) membership-based nonprofi t, and also runs the Timber Unity Politi- cal Action Committee, or TUPAC. Since its genesis June 6, 2019, TUPAC has brought in over $177,000. TUPAC has been crit- icized for its partisan and special-interest donors, such as Andrew Miller, a promi- nent timber executive. Timber Unity’s lead- ers, however, say they’re undaunted by criticisms. Parrish said the organiza- tion will extend its reach by helping plant local chapters across Oregon, California and Washington. Timber Unity, said Par- rish, also plans to host train- ing sessions and teach civic engagement workshops. “You can only tax peo- ple so much,” said Lardy. “It all started with a rally, and we’re doing it again.” YOUR #1 SOURCE FOR TIRES • CUSTOM WHEELS • • AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES • Hours: 503-325-2861 35359 Business Hwy 101 Mon-Fri 8-6 Sat 8-4 For emergencies 503-325-0233 (Miles Crossing) Astoria, OR ELECTRICAL • Repairs • Generator installation & servicing • New construction • Remodels Serving the North Oregon Coast since 1950! Serving Clatsop & Tillamook Counties 503.738.8391 CCB#3226 ELECTRICAL • New Construction • Remodels • Panel Changes & Upgrades CCB #198257 • Add Circuits or Lighting • Generators CALL US for your next electrical project! • Repairs 503-739-7145 712 S. Holladay Dr. • Seaside, OR Monday-Friday 8 am -5 pm www.jjelectricservice.com
