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Volume 18, No. 16
August 8, 2013
northcoastcitizen.com • $1
Manzanita looks at changing the way it treats its water
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Inside
By Dave Fisher The Citizen
THIRD-GENERATION FIREFIGHTER ASSUMES NBFR DISTRICT POST Nehalem resident Frankie Knight is the district’s new Division Chief Training Officer. Page 5
Business
NEHALEM BEEHIVE COMES TO LIFE After a four-month-long renovation, The Nehalem Beehive opens in the former Art Happens building. Page 2
Online
MANZANITA RESIDENT WINS ‘PROJECT BUN-WAY’ CONTEST
Jeff Skirvin, a top chain saw competitor and seasoned showman from Knappa, captivated the crowd with his woodsy expertise in a variety of events, however things didn’t go so well in log rolling, as Skirvin (above right) lands in the water. Photo by Dave Fisher
Rinehart Clinic makes a ‘Big Splash!’ Timber/logging exhibition highlights the Wheeler clinic’s 100-year anniversary celebration Tracing its roots back to 1913 when Dr. Harvey Rinehart first came to Wheeler, working as a physician for the Wheeler Mill, The Rinehart Clinic celebrated its 100th anniversary with a community festival and timber/logging exhibition acknowledging the clinic’s early connection to the timber industry. On hand at the familyfriendly July 28 birthday party for the clinic was another family, this one from Knappa with a logging tradition all its own, that presented an hour-long show featuring ax throwing, crosscut sawing, springboard chopping, log rolling and chainsaw sculpting. Jeff Skirvin, a top chain saw competitor and seasoned showman, captivated the crowd with his woodsy expertise in a variety of events with help See RINEHART, Page 5
Above: Dr. Harry Rinehart, (second row, at left) introduces members of his extended family who were on hand at The Rinehart Clinic’s 100th anniversary community festival held in Nehalem on July 28. At left: Dr. Harry Rinehart converses with 99-year-old is Jacoba Curtis, a former Wheeler Hospital employee. To her left is her daughter Dorothy Curtis Taksdal. Photos by Laura Swanson
Matt Rippee returns to the Nehalem park he once worked at a decade ago By Dave Fisher
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The Citizen
Site preparation for Nehalem’s new city hall is underway in anticipation of the arrival of the modular units that will be put together onsite to create the new building. Completion of the project is scheduled September 30. Photo by Dave Fisher
New Nehalem City Hall on track By Dave Fisher The Citizen
Nehalem’s long-awaited new city hall building is, step-by-step, getting closer to reality. Work crews have been busy the past couple of weeks in preparing the site at the corner of Tohls and 8th streets, adjacent to the present city hall and former Nehalem Fire
Department. Foundation work was scheduled to commence this week. “We’re really excited,” said City Manager Dale Shafer. “All the hard work is done for us, now it’s just a matter of sitting and waiting.” Fortunately for city officials, they won’t
See CITY HALL, Page 5
It turns out the new guy at Nehalem Bay State Park (NBSP), Matt Rippee, who replaced Larry Oswald as park manager, isn’t new to the park at all, but is merely returning. Rippee, who was a park ranger at Nehalem Bay from 2002 to 2004, has been on board at the park since mid-May and hasn’t really had a chance to catch his breath with the high traffic summer season in full swing. To illustrate his point, he pulls up figures on his computer for August 2012 showing that the park had 32,400 overnight users and a little over 100,000 day-use visitors.
Friendly people... friendly service, That’s Manzanita Grocery & Deli! H50893
“the little apple” 503-368-5362
See WATER, Page 5
Meet the new park manager at Nehalem Bay State Park
Sue Griffith’s hooded gardening jacket was one of three winning entries in the national contest sponsored by Annie’s Homegrown. Visit our website online
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There’s no cause for alarm, Manzanita City Manger Jerry Taylor wants to assure that community’s citizens, but the way the city’s public works department treats its water may be changing. The problem is adjusting the pH level in the water Manzanita supplies to its residents. As have other municipalities and water districts throughout the state, Manzanita is seeing an increased amount of carbon dioxide in its raw water that it receives from its well source. To reduce the amount of carbon dioxide, which in turn increases the pH level, the city has for years added caustic soda to regulate pH levels in its drinking water. Taylor doesn’t profess to be a chemist, nor does he necessarily blame global climate change for the increase of carbon dioxide in the earth’s water. All he knows for sure is, “if you can take carbon dioxide out of the water, the pH goes up.” In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity in water. Water with a pH less than 7 is said to be acidic and water with a pH greater than 7 is basic or alkaline. Pure water has a pH close to 7. In looking to reduce the amount of caustic soda it adds to its water and save money in the long run, the Manzanita City Council held a workshop July 22, and heard from engineer Rob Henry, of HBH Consulting Engineers, Inc., who was on hand to explain his firm’s analysis of whether or not a new technological advancement, known as a carbon dioxide stripper, would be a cost justified alternative.
When it comes to friendly, caring people, nobody out does Manzanita Grocery & Deli. For the best service in town, shop at the store where everybody knows your name! Located in the heart of downtown Manzanita on Laneda Ave. – open 7 days a week!
Matt Rippee “It’s definitely a destination park,” said Rippee, who has been with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) for 11 years. Interestingly, his most recent stint with the agency was as the operations manager for the Oregon State Fair, which OPRD has managed the See PARK, Page 2