Big ‘kicker’ coming ......................... PAGE 3 Dirt fishing along the coast ...... PAGE 12
September 6, 2022
Serving Lincoln City Since 1927
$1.50
Pixieland documentary refreshes memories decide to the Pixieland Documentary? Peter Dibble: I’m really video documentary about a interested in theme park history former Oregon Coast amuseand have been wanting to tackle ment park has generated high views something in that realm for a long on social media and renewed memotime. I was originally looking into ries of what life was like years ago in the amusement parks that operated Lincoln City. around Portland in the early 20th The Forgotten Story of Pixieland: century. But through some of that The Oregon Coast Amusement Park early research I came across inforwas released live on YouTube August mation about Pixieland and ended 12 and generated over 340,000 in the up getting far more invested in first several days since then. that story instead. “The Oregon coast was once home The News Guard: What did to an amusement park that promised you take away from doing this to be the Pacific Northwest’s answer documentary and what surprised to Disneyland,” Documentarian Peter and/or amazed Dibble writes in his you? introduction of the Dibble: “It’s just a fascinating video. “Despite the The most surand fun story that talent and heart that prising thing many people don’t went into its developto me has just realize happened in ment, the park shut been the sheer Lincoln City.” down within just a number of few years. This docuThis photo shows Pixieland when it was in operation. people who Peter Dibble mentary tells the full still fondly fun story that many people don’t realthink I would’ve fully understood the story of the defunct remember ize happened in Lincoln City. Even park’s lasting importance to the comPixieland park, from the Pixie Kitchen for those who don’t live in town, or munity. its earliest inspiration to its long-lastand Pixieland. Partnering with some even in Oregon, I think it has a wide The News Guard: What is your ing impact on the local community.” folks in Lincoln City really helped me appeal simply because of the heart and hope that we take away from this The News Guard talked with understand the extent of that. If I had soul that went into the park. So many documentary? Dibble about the documentary. stuck solely to online research, I don’t aspects of that time period really elicit Dibble: It’s just a fascinating and The News Guard: Why did you JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
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COURTESY FROM THE KIWANIS CLUB OF LINCOLN CITY
a lot of nostalgia, too. The News Guard: Are you surprised by the reaction after it was released on Facebook? Dibble: When I was getting ready
See PIXIELAND, Page A4
Kenny’s IGA north store closes, south store remains open JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
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he Kenny’s IGA Seafood and Grocery store in north Lincoln City has closed. The grocery store had operated at 2429 NW Highway 101 since the early 1960s. On the final day of operations Aug. 30, local residents joined store owner Andy Morgan and his wife and their employees before the north IGA store closed that evening. Former Lincoln City Councilor Roger Sprague called the closing of the IGA North store, the end of an era. “This store has been a major part of our community for years,” Sprague said. “I’ve been here for 42 years and the store has been kind of the foundation. Even with the south store remaining open, It’s not going to be the same. The north store has always been the ground floor of everything. It’s too bad.”
Morgan said he will continue to operate the south IGA store at 4845 SW Highway 101. The News Guard asked Morgan what challenges he believes are ahead for the south Lincoln City IGA. Morgan responded by saying the store is in a good position for the future. “We are probably lucky, geographically with that store,” he said “Both stores stand on their own. The difference was the dynamics of the ownership of the north store’s property, so it was time to make a change with the real estate. It was just a bittersweet time for us to exit.” Morgan said leaving the north neighborhood is, “really heavy, but we are not leaving the community,” he said. “To grow up and to represent a third generation of family that has run a local business in this community, to be a part of that legacy, that’s the best part.”
In his decision to close the north IGA, Morgan said it was really all about giving more time to family, but he acknowledged that balancing both family and business will still be challenging. “It’s unrealistic to think that I will give less than I am giving now,” he said, adding that the difference with the north store closed, is that there will be 50% less of the job demands and distractions. “We are still 100% committed to the business, to the employees, to the neighborhood and to the community,” he said. Morgan said he and his wife had been discussing a change over the last several years. “Pre-pandemic we had a family that wanted to take over the north store and said they didn’t want to change a thing. But at the last minute that fell through,” he said. While specifics had not been made public as of press time, Morgan said
JEREMY C. RUARK / THE NEWS GUARD
The north Kenny’s IGA store closed Aug. 30. another grocery retailer will locate at north IGA store. Morgan said he and his wife are now focusing on the future and the south IGA store operations. “We just keep telling people that we just want to polish apples better,” he said. “Rather than being run by the company, we want to represent what
we think we can bring to the community, to the neighborhood and to the employees. It’s not a change of attitude at all. It is just a change of ability.” Kenny Morgan Sr. began the store operations in 1941 in the Oceanlake area. Family members have continued the operations ever since.
Into the future:
Local families, dignitaries break ground for new homes
STAFF REPORT
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wo Lincoln City families, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln County (HFHLC), are getting ready for a new future. The families have broken ground on their future homes in the Garden Estates neighborhood of Lincoln City. Dozens of neighbors joined the Ambríz-Sánchez and the Hallett families as well as elected officials, HFHLC board members and staff and project donors at the groundbreaking for the homes. “To see everybody up and down the street come out to welcome these parents and their kids and even offer to help build is exactly what Habitat is all about,” said HFHLC board president, Holly Romero. “This is what we mean when we say we build communities, not just homes.” The Ambríz-Sánchez family includes four children, ranging in ages from four to twelve as well as the grandmother, Anna. This seven-member household is currently living in a three-bedroom apartment sharing one bathroom. They will help build a four-bedroom home and are excited about having more space for the children to play and a larger kitchen for preparing family meals, according to a release from HFHLC.
“We never imagined we would ever own a home,” said Jesus Sanchez through a translator. “We are so grateful.” The Hallett family is a six-member household with four children between the ages of four and ten, three of whom have special needs. Unfortunately, they have experienced theft and other safety concerns in prior homes, as well as neighbors who have made them feel unwelcome because they don’t understand the needs of the children, the releases states. Parents, Shellie and Justin, said they are looking forward to helping build a five-bedroom home where the children can thrive in bedrooms that offer privacy and reduced stimulation as well as a fenced backyard that will keep them safe. “We’re just so grateful for this opportunity and want to thank everyone involved,” Shellie said. State Senator Dick Anderson, Representative David Gomberg, Lincoln County Commissioner Kaety Jacobsen, and Lincoln City Mayor Susan Wahlke spoke at the Aug. 24 groundbreaking. Each shared a message with the families, congratulating them on this milestone and expressing their enthusiasm and support for affordable housing in Lincoln County.
COURTESY PHOTO
From left to right, Lucinda Taylor, Holly Romero, State Sen. Dick Anderson, Lincoln City Mayor Susan Wahlke, Lincoln County Commissioner Kaety Jacobsen, Jesus Ambriz, Angel Ambriz, Anabel Ambriz, Jesus Ambriz Jr, Ivette Ambriz, Guadelupe Sanchez, State Rep. David Gomberg. Helping hands Habitat for Humanity partner families help build their own homes, alongside community volunteers and Habitat staff, and learn skills they can use later in maintaining and repairing their
VOL. 95 NO. 33
See HABITAT, Page A4
TheNewsGuard.com
WEATHER
INDEX Police Blotter ............... 2 Opinion ......................... 5
home. Each family is required to put in several hundred hours of “sweat equity” as they help with construction or related tasks that match their
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