Clatskanie Cruisers
Vigilante hunts
Car Show 2016 See page A9
for sex offenders See page A7
Calendar-A3 • Church News-A3 • Classified Ads-A6 • Legal Notices-A6 • Neighborhood News-A2 • Obituaries-A5 • Opinions-A4 • Sports-A10
Friday, July 1, 2016
The Chief
$1 Vol. 125, No. 7 10 Pages
Serving the Lower Columbia Region Since 1891
Clatskanie gets pavement, street reflector improvements BY JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Just in time for the annual Clatskanie Heritage Days Fourth of July Parade, city public works crews have added fresh coats of paint to the parking spaces and curbs along Nehalem Street. The crews have also added something new to the middle of the street specially designed reflective tape. Clatskanie Public Works Director Ray Dipasquale said the tape is an experiment to see if it provides better public safety and is more economical than using standard street paint. “The reflective tape lasts longer,” Dipasquale said. “It has reflected elements molded into the fabric. It is better than flat asphalt paint.” City public works crews laid the tape down earlier this week over the faded street strips that separate lanes of traffic along Nehalem Street. “We’ll use the strips on other streets in limited areas,” Dipasquale said. “Crews will still have to paint the curbs and parking stalls.” Dipasquale said he purchased the tape online, searching for the best deal he could find. He declined to make public the cost of the tape saying he would summarize the costs to the Clatskanie City Council once the street project is complete. The city also contracted with Mike George Paving & Seal Coating for an approximately $70,000 overlay and reconstruction project on portions of 2nd, 3nd and Tichenor Streets. “In areas where the pavement has deteriorated to the point that we can’t support an overlay, we took that portion out and ground the surface and placed new asphalt on the re-compacted
JEREMY C. RUARK / THE CHIEF
Clatskanie Public Works employees Calvin Shulda and Jacob Pina lay down specially designed reflector tape along Nehalem Street. The city is testing the tape to see if it can economically replace the painted street stripes.
lines, but also the gas mains and storm drains in the area. Those utilities need to be protected by a dependable roadway system.” Dipasquale said the overlay and reconstruction project is the only major street work budgeted this summer in Clatskanie. Dipasquale said the city prioritizes the roadways that are either carrying higher traffic volumes, or are in a more deteriorated condi-
base,” he said. “In areas where the asphalt is in good condition, we simply put an overlay on.” The work took place Tuesday, June 28 following set up projects on Monday, June 27. “This work not only keeps the roadways safer and offers a more acceptable riding experience, but also the treatment protects all the underground utilities in our roadways, not just our water and sewer
tion in order to assess longevity as well as serving the number of maximum daily trips. The city also takes into account the safety issues associated with the circulation network for the school systems. According to Dipasquale, Tichenor Street has been a high priority. “We have undertaken a sanitary improvement there, and until
we get that improvement done beneath the road it wouldn’t be appropriate to pave the road,” he said. “So, as we continue to upgrade the sewer systems we will continue that paving program.” Dipasquale said the city has not yet identified any other roadways for improvements. “Maintenance is the key to a
See PAVEMENT Page A7
Clatskanie’s Independence Day Parade Puzey ready for challenges BY JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
“Everyone loves a parade,” so the saying goes. And in Clatskanie the annual Heritage Days Fourth of July Parade is expected to draw thousands. Heritage Days Fourth of July Parade Coordinator Ed Franklin said more than 100 entrants have been in past parades, making Clatskanie a favorite place to visit during the Independence Day holiday. “When you are in the parade you realize how big of a deal this is to the people of Clatskanie by the sheer number of people lining the street along the parade route,” Franklin said. “It is a mass
of people four and five deep, from curb to yard, from 7th street on South Nehalem to the bridge on North Nehalem and even a good size group along 5th Street.” Franklin said the engagement of the community is what makes the parade such a success each year. “It’s all the local people that enter the parade on floats, on bikes, on horses, walking, showing off their cars, showing their business, the local utility, the log trucks, dump trucks, antique tractors, the fire trucks, the kids showing their talents and our local politicians either come from the community or have family ties to Clatskanie,” he said. Franklin said the parade also draws participants from out of town.
“Like the Astoria Clowns, the Astoria Regatta float, usually a crowd favorite, courts of princesses and queens from other towns, local celebrations and the horse courts and sometimes military groups,” he said. “We never know until the day of the parade the actual number we will have that year. Some participants register in advance and many more register the day of the parade.” “People line up and down Nehalem Street and wait anxiously to see who and what will be participating in the parade,” Clatskanie Heritage Days Chair Debi Smiley said. “There is a lot of excitement and high energy as the children
See PARADE Page A7
THE CHIEF FILE PHOTO
Children caught pounds of thrown candy during the 2015 Heritage Days Fourth of July Parade.
as new city councilor
Clatskanie City Manager Greg Hinkelman said he expects to give the jruark@countrymedia.net city council his recommendation about Following a distinctive 24 years and contracting the police services with the 9 months as a Clatskanie city councilor, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office later this summer. Ron Puzey didn’t think he’d be back. “The whole thing needs to be But given his passion for the city and resolved soon that later if we are going his understanding of the need to serve to continue to do business as usual,” his community, Puzey has agreed to Puzey said. a Clatskanie City Council request to Other issues Puzey said he wants to return as a councilor. He will serve the address concern remaining six months of Steve Conwhat public services are needed stans term. Constans retired on June 8 and finding the money to pay for those after nearly 16 years of city service. “I have always been interested in the services. Hinkelman said he would deliver his town,” Puzey said. “I enjoyed my time recommendation for hiring a new city on the city council,” attorney during the But Puzey July 6 meeting. He tells The Chief said he is reviewing “I don’t have an axe to he won’t run for proposal from a the city council grind. But I do have goals to aPortland law firm to position after do the work. the term expires accomplish. The city has a “Hickelman lot of turmoil.” in December, said it is important citing his age and – Ron Puzey, incoming that the city have an family issues he Clatskanie City Councilor attorney. wants to attend “Just about to. everything in this world “No, he said. “I has to be run by an attorney, like simple won’t run. In September, I will be 82. I agreements, land use, ordinances and have put in a lot of time.” enforcement that need to be reviewed.” Puzey is expected to be sworn in as Typically Clatskanie contracts the new city councilor during the July with an attorney for the needed legal 6 Clatskanie City Council’s regular services. monthly meeting. “We put in a certain amount of “I don’t have an ax to grind,” he money each year for such professional said. “But I do have goals to accomservices,” plish. The city has a lot of turmoil.” Hinkelman said. “Contracting out Puzey said he will need to catch up the legal services makes economic on the city issues and see where the sense.” priorities are. The Clatskanie City Council is “I think the most pressing issue is scheduled to meet 7 p.m. on Wednesthe disbanding of the police department,” he said. “There are some pluses, day, July 6, at Clatskanie City Hall but I want to look at that issue carefully. located at 95 S NeHalem Street. We don’t want to jump into something Follow the Clatskanie City Council without knowing what we are doing. online at thechiefnews.com and in print We need to make the best informed in the Friday editions of The Chief. decision we can.” BY JEREMY C. RUARK