10 years ago this week — 2014

It was all about the future for the Astoria Fighting Fishermen Friday night at CMH Field.

The Banks Braves owned the present — posting a 21-6 win over the Fishermen in the Cowapa League regular-season finale.

But there are some bright things on the horizon for Astoria football.

Such as: sophomore quarterback Fritz Fremstad showing off his scrambling abilities and making plays for the next two years; a rushing attack that could be tough to stop next season; and home games for a long time to come in their new wonder in the woods, Columbia Memorial Hospital Field.

The stadium is the new gem of the Cowapa League, and school officials were glad to show it off in Friday’s grand opening, with local dignitaries and politicians on hand for the pregame ceremonies.

Astoria Mayor Willis Van Dusen: “This is a tremendous teamwork effort, and it is a historic event for Astoria and the whole community.”

State Sen. Betsy Johnson: “This stands out for the level of cooperation, innovation and working together. This is going to endure for generations. Congratulations to everyone who made this a reality.”

One night in August 1966, before governors, mayors and other so-called important people had officially opened the newly constructed Astoria Bridge, a handful of young men from Astoria slipped past the barricades.

In the dark, still night, they ran all the way across and touched the other side.

Now, an average of 7,200 vehicles travel in both directions every day across what is the longest continuous three-span through-truss bridge in the world, according to numbers gathered in 2013 by the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Beginning in 2009, workers contracted by the Department of Transportation have brought those vehicles to regular standstills as a much-needed maintenance project pushes forward. The end is still a long way off, with work expected to continue through 2021.

A historic mansion and two vacant business properties owned by the Flavel family may soon be sold, depending on negotiations between the city of Astoria and the conservatorship of Mary Louise Flavel.

The conservatorship recently offered the city $40,000 in reimbursements on the sale of the properties in exchange for lifting the liens and allowing the properties to be sold.

The liens from the city on the troubled properties total $1.4 million.

GRAYLAND, Wash. — Violent ocean surf resulting from the remnants of a tropical typhoon accelerated the loss of land at aptly named Washaway Beach in north Pacific County this week.

On Tuesday, a photographer described seeing about 6 feet of lateral erosion in the course of half an hour. A former residence teetered on the brink of falling into the ocean, the latest of many such losses in recent years.

Beach erosion along the miles of coastline immediately north of the mouth of Willapa Bay has been a problem for decades. It resulted in the loss of a lighthouse in the early 1940s.

At least 4 square miles of land has now been lost along what scientists say is one of the fastest-eroding shorelines in the U.S.

50 years ago — 1974

Columbia Memorial Hospital’s application for a certificate of need to build a 74-bed hospital in Astoria was rejected by the Oregon Health Commission in Portland.

The rejection was expected after a special three-member state siting review team recommended turning down Columbia Memorial’s application Oct. 18.

The review team concurred with a staff report from the State Office of Health Planning Services that the proposed 74-bed hospital to be built in south Astoria on land owned by Ernie Garcia was too big and too costly.

Members of the Health Commission followed suit Friday. They also concurred with a recommendation to allow Columbia Memorial to file a new application as soon as possible.

The 100th anniversary of St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church Parish in Astoria was observed with a two-fold mission Sunday — a Mass of Thanksgiving at the parish followed by a banquet at Astoria Junior High School.

Celebrant of the commemorative Mass was the archbishop of Portland in Oregon, the Rev. Cornelius Power, assisted by six former priests of Astoria.

GEARHART — Katherine O’Neill doesn’t think flying the flag as a symbol of patriotism is “misplaced sentimentalism.”

She proudly displayed her flag Monday in honor of the nation’s veterans of all wars. There weren’t a lot of flags flying in the area and she was disappointed.

The silk flag with the 48 stars is a special one to Mr. O’Neill. It was presented to Gen. John J. Pershing by the emperor of Japan, who gave it to his aide Gen. J.G. Harbord, she said.

O’Neill explained the flag was later given to her by Harbord’s relatives, descendants of Gen. Robert E. Lee.

She also produced a copy of the famous World War I “Doughboy” painting. O’Neill once owned the original painting but donated it to the Smithsonian Institution in 1960.

She said she misses the music and parades that used to accompany Veterans Day observances.

“Someone said that peace isn’t man’s world, war was. We’ll never wipe out war,” she said.

She has a special feeling for veterans of that world.

Mainly scarecrows commonly guard stick-like stalks of corn, so what could be better protection in a pumpkin patch than two Buddhas as roly-poly as pumpkins?

At least that’s the reasoning of the people at the Clatsop County Garden Center, who placed this pair in their patch this afternoon.

The smiling stone statues won’t have long to watch in any event as Halloween’s just around the corner and the center hopes to sell all its plump pumpkins.

The two big Buddhas might not even be around long enough to greet the Great Pumpkin of “Peanuts” cartoon fame when he descends to greet Linus on Halloween night.

75 years ago — 1949

Western oyster processors have oysters packed into a No. 1 or smaller can lost their fight to get a 5-ounce can.

The U.S. Supreme Court refused to take up the matter of how many oysters should be put into a No. 1 can Monday, according to United Press dispatches.

The case was brought by Willapoint Oysters Inc., a Washington state canning firm, and other West Coast processors, including Union Fishermen’s Cooperative Packing Co., of Astoria, were also involved.

Anton Sorensen, manager of Union Fishermen’s, said Monday the company would continue in the oyster business despite the adverse ruling, and is preparing its cannery now for a small-scale pack this year.

“This puts Western oyster processors at a definite disadvantage,” Sorensen said, “but I think we can comply with the order when oysters are in good condition.”

Western processors argued that Pacific coast oysters do not lend themselves to the 6 1/2-ounce pack, which was made originally with Eastern oysters in mind.

Someone stole his car and drove it 105 miles while he sat in a movie Saturday evening, C.H. Winchester complained to city police, but the thief ran out of gas and left the car a block from its original parking place before the movie was over.

Winchester, who lives at Route 1, Box 606, said he had parked the vehicle at 11th and Bond streets.

When he left the theater to go home three hours later, he found the auto at 10th and Bond with the gas tank empty, a set of sockets stolen and 105 additional miles registered on the speedometer.

Winchester said the ignition wires had been torn loose and crossed to start the motor.

Fog continued to hamper airline operations throughout Washington and Oregon today and Astoria has been without a flight since Saturday, local West Coast Airlines officials revealed today.

Dense fog in Portland, Seattle and Eugene have hamstrung airline operations, although locally, visibility has been good enough during the day to permit operations, airline officials said.

No traffic has come to Astoria, however, because of the inability of other airports to operate because of the dense fog.

Local U.S. Coast Guard officials reported no marine assistance calls as a result of the fog.

Fire of undetermined origin swept through the cabin of the dragger Tamara San, anchored in the west end of Baker Bay, at about 10:30 Friday morning, reports from Cape Disappointment U.S. Coast Guard officials said.

According to the Coast Guard report, there was nobody aboard the vessel when the fire broke out. The Tamara San was anchored between the front and rear range lights at the west end of Baker Bay.

Clatsop County Pomona Grange, which has been campaigning this summer for revival of the long-defunct annual county fair, will soon ask all interested civic and public bodies in Clatsop County to send delegates to a meeting to organize for the fair’s revival.

Earl Griffith, Olney granger who is county Pomona chairman, appealed for support of the Astoria Chamber of Commerce at the chamber’s weekly luncheon meeting Friday.

He said sentiment in rural districts of the county is strong for revival of the fair, last held in 1931.

Griffith said several possible locations have been suggested, including the present 4-H club fair location in Astoria, which could be expanded; a former fair location in Gearhart; a site in Warrenton; the Tapiola Park district in Astoria; and the Clatsop Airport.

The Port of Astoria’s dredge Natoma is digging about 20,000 yards of dirt a day out of Cathlamet Bay, site of the new maritime reserve fleet basin.