Briefs for Jan. 29, 2026

Published 12:20 pm Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Andrew Niemi, of Lower Columbia Engineering, speaks at a celebration event to recognize the land donation that opens the door for a new Westport park Jan. 16. As owner of the land, the county can now submit grant applications to fund the proposed parks projects.

Knappa school on brief lockdown Wednesday

Knappa High School was on a lockdown Wednesday from approximately 11:34 a.m. to 12:14 p.m.

According to Bill Fritz, Knappa school superintendent, the lockdown was a precaution while police were looking for a suspect in the area.

The police called an all clear at 12:14, Fritz said.

Park caretaker position open

The Clatsop County Parks Department is looking for a park caretaker “to help operate and maintain the award-winning Westport County Park.”

It is a one-year contract position beginning March 1, 2026, ending Feb. 28, 2027.

The caretaker will live on site in their own fully operable self-contained recreational vehicle (RV), travel trailer, or motor home for the duration of the contract. Up to two pets are allowed, with restrictions. Full hookups, including electricity, water, sewer and garbage service are supplied by the county.

Applications are available online at ClatsopCounty.gov. Completed applications may be emailed or mailed to: Clatsop County Parks, 2001 Marine Drive, Suite 253, Astoria, Oregon 97103.

The position is open until filled. Parks staff will review applications and contact interested parties. Final placement is contingent upon successfully passing a background check.

For questions, call Corey Johnson at 503-325-6452.

Additional charges filed against Ilwaco’s former fire chief

The Pacific County Prosecutor’s Office filed amended charges on Jan. 22 against Jeffrey S. Archer, 44, former fire chief in Ilwaco, upping his charges from 37 counts to 51. Archer was fired on Jan. 21

Archer was arrested by the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 9 after an investigation into allegations that Archer sexually assaulted three victims. He has been held inside the Pacific County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bail.

According to the amended charges, Archer now faces 21 counts of first-degree child molestation, ten counts of first-degree rape of a child, one count of first-degree dealing depictions of minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, one count of first-degree possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, four counts of second-degree child molestation, one count of third-degree rape of a child, four counts of third-degree child molestation, two counts of distributing a controlled substance to a minor, and seven counts of commercial sexual abuse of a child.

Archer is scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing on Feb. 13, and his trial is tentatively scheduled to begin on March 9.

Road work for week of Feb 2

Crews will be performing ditch maintenance on Lewis and Clark and Pipeline Roads, chopping in Fort Stevens and grading on Nordlund-McCoy Lane, Uno Swensk Road, and Jurgensen Lane. In addition, they will be removing dangerous trees on Bay Road, Beneke Creek Road, and Tweedle Lane.

— The Astorian