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Weekend of January 11-12, 2020 A3 The Dalles Chronicle TheDallesChronicle.com Aerovel founder honored as member in Order of Canada Bakke ■ by The Elaine White Salmon Enterprise A Nobel laureate, a former prime minister, a Hollywood director and a Gorge resident and businessman are among 120 people honored in the New Year’s appointments to the Order of Canada by Rideau Hall, the official residence in Ottawa of the Governor General of Canada. Governor General Julie Payette announced the names from across the coun- try to receive the Order of Canada on Friday, Dec. 27. The Order of Canada rec- ognizes Canadians for their dedication to serving their communities and country. It was established in 1967. The Order of Canada (French: Ordre du Canada) is the sec- ond highest honor for merit in the system of orders, decora- tions, and medals of Canada. The highest of the Order’s three levels is that of “com- panion.” There can be no more than 165 living companions at any time. This year’s companion list includes James Cameron, the Oscar-winning director of Titanic and Avatar, former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper and physicist Donna Strickland. Individuals appointed as officers of the Order of Canada, the second highest honor, are recognized for na- tional service or achievement. And, those inducted as members are recognized for “outstanding contributions at the local or regional level” in a specific field. Bingen businessman and Vancouver, B.C., resident Brian Theodore “Tad” McGeer is being made a member of the order for his contributions to aeronautical engineering and for his inno- vative designs for unmanned aerial systems. “I was in fact asked about a month ago whether I would accept the honor, and I would hardly be so rude as to say no, but I did suggest that I wasn’t quite up to the usual standards as set by members whom I know or know about—not least my parents,” McGeer said of the honor. “They (his parents) are among the world’s most-cit- ed neuroscientists, so pretty obvious choices, as are other Canadian scientists whose contributions are substantial. I on the other hand been enjoying myself in my own little niche, but I suppose that recognition has value if the story raises interest in engineering as a career. The current Governor General, incidentally, is an engineer and astronaut.” While recipients will re- ceive their honors in Ottawa, Canada, sometime in 2020, McGeer has yet to be notified of the exact date. “I’m told that formal NEWS IN BRIEF SAIF offers ag seminars SAIF will be presenting a free, half-day seminar on agri- culture safety and health on Wednesday, Jan. 22, in English and on Thursday, Jan. 23 in Spanish. Both seminars are 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center, 402 E. Scenic Drive, The Dalles. Lunch is included. The seminars are designed primarily for people working in agriculture, but are open to anyone interested in agricul- tural safety and health—they don’t have to be insured by SAIF. Registration is required. More information available at www.saif.com/ agseminars. Assault, attempted murder case delayed Fitzgerald ■ By The Emily Hood River News Bingen businessman and Vancouver, B.C., resident Brian Theodore “Tad” McGeer is being made a member of the order for his contri- butions to aeronautical engineering and for his innovative designs for unmanned aerial systems. Contributed photo ceremonies in Ottawa occur four times per year, and I sup- pose that I’ll be at one of those in 2020. I haven’t been to Ottawa for more than 20 years! Must take the opportunity to sell some Flexrotors,” he said. Although McGeer is “very much Canadian,” he is more of a frequent visitor to Vancouver, Canada, (where he was born) than a resident. These days, the Princeton and Stanford graduate primarily lives in Hood River and works at his company Aerovel’s headquarters in Bingen. McGeer founded Insitu in 1992. After selling it to Boeing, he then founded Aerovel, maker of the “flex- rotor” in 2006. “Flexrotor is now con- tending for US Special Forces’ Medium Endurance Unmanned Aircraft System program (which over the years has mainly used Scaneagle and Aerosonde),” he said proudly of his new unmanned aerial system. The assault and attempted murder case surrounding a Nov. 1 incident in Parkdale, where a man allegedly stabbed his brother, has been delayed, pending the victim’s medical records. Leif Sorensen Leif Sorensen, 38, Parkdale, is sched- uled to enter a plea in Hood River County Circuit Court on Feb. 24. He appeared in Hood River County Circuit Court alongside his attorney, Bernice Melamud. Melamud told Judge John Olson that she was still missing medical records and requested time to obtain and review those before Sorensen enters a plea. Sorensen was arrested on charges of Assault in the First Degree and Attempt to Commit a Crime—Murder on Nov. 1 after allegedly stabbing his brother in the chest. The victim, Hans Severinsen, 35, called 911. Sorensen was located less than a mile away from the scene after a brief search of a nearby wooded area, and he was taken into custody without incident. Sorensen was initially lodged at NORCOR, but he was released on a Conditional Release Agreement on Nov. 20. Severinsen, was given immediate care by EMS at the scene and transported to the Odell area, where he was then taken to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center via Life Flight. On Nov. 10, he posted a status on Facebook that said (sic), “I’m still livin Didn’t give but have huge wounds.” Sorensen received a plea offer from the state prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Carrie Rasmussen, on Dec. 31; but, Rasmussen said, “If there’s a change in circumstances, the plea offer will be immediately revoked.” State awards over $26M for salmon recovery projects The Washington Salmon Recovery Funding Board has announced the award of $26.1 million in grants for projects across the state aimed at bringing salm- on back from the brink of extinction. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the board’s creation and the suite of proj- ects brings the total amount of salmon recovery since the board’s formation as follows: •713 barriers to migrating fish corrected, giving salmon access to 2,082 miles of habitat; •537 miles of streams con- served to ensure they remain healthy habitat for genera- tions of salmon to come; •More than 48,500 acres of shorelines, estuaries, wetlands, and other stream habitat restored; •More than 17,700 acres of land along rivers, wetlands, and estuaries cleared of inva- sive species. Projects awarded grants in Klickitat County for a total of $371,096. Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation was awarded a $121,500 grant for planning a project to restore Spring Creek fish passage. The Yakama Nation will use this grant to plan a project to remove a dam on Spring Creek that would open about 1.25 miles of habitat for migrating fish and three miles for freshwater fish. The river is used by Chinook and coho salmon and steelhead trout, all of which are species listed as threatened with extinction under the federal Endangered Species Act. The Eastern Klickitat Conservation District was awarded $249,596 for removing a levee to support Walaluuks Creek restoration. The Eastern Klickitat Conservation District will use this grant to remove a levee that constricts Walaluuks Creek and place large tree root wads and logs in the creek to restore habitat. Adding logs to a creek creates places for fish to rest, feed, and hide from predators. It also slows the creek, which reduces erosion and allows small rocks to settle to the bottom, creating areas for salmon to spawn. Finally, logs change the flow of the creek, creating riffles and pools, which give salmon more varied habitat. The conservation district also will remove Himalayan black- berry and replant the area with native species. Planting trees and bushes along a shoreline shades the water, cooling it for fish. The plants drop branches and leaves into the water, which provide food for the insects salmon eat. Finally, the roots of the plants help keep soil from entering the water, where it can smother fish spawning gravel. The river is used by steelhead trout, which is a species listed as threatened with extinction under the federal Endangered Species Act. The conservation district will contribute $44,100 in a state grant. With the grants award- ed above, the board has approved a total of 3,093 grants and surpassed the $1 billion investment mark since 1999, including matching funds from grant recipients. “The work being done across the state on salmon recovery is critical,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “These grants for on-the-ground projects will help us restore salmon to healthy levels that allow for both protection and a robust fishery. We must do every- thing we can to restore this beloved Washington icon and help orcas, which are starving due to lack of salm- on, before it is too late.” “These grants create many other benefits for local communities, such as better water quality, less flooding, more resiliency to climate change and a boost to our statewide economy,” said Phil Rockefeller, chair of the Salmon Recovery Funding Board. “Since the board’s be- ginning, its grants have cre- ated or sustained more than 4,000 jobs and contributed to the state’s economy as grant recipients spend the money for products and services.” The Salmon Recovery Funding Board awarded grants to organizations for 96 projects in 28 of the state’s 39 counties. Grant recipi- ents will use this funding to remove barriers that prevent salmon from migrating to and from the ocean, increase the types and amount of salmon habitat and conserve pristine areas. How are projects chosen? Projects are selected by lead entities, which are watershed-based groups that include tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations and citizens. This ensures that the projects selected are community priorities. Lead entities vet projects based on federally approved, regional salmon recovery plans and prioritize projects to submit to the Salmon Recovery Funding Board for funding. Regional salmon recovery organiza- tions and the board review each project for cost-effec- tiveness and to ensure they will benefit salmon. “This community-based approach, combined with regional and state scientific review ensures that we are picking the projects that will benefit salmon the most,” said Kaleen Cottingham, director of the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, which administers the grants. “While salmon are not recovered yet, these grants have had a significant im- pact on slowing the decline of salmon and in some cases helping to bring them close to recovery goals. This is not easy work and change won’t happen quickly, but without these grants, it won’t happen at all.” Why save salmon? Washington salmon populations have been declining for generations. As Washington grew and built its cities and towns, it destroyed many of the places salmon need to live. In 1991, the fed- eral government declared the first salmon as endangered. By the end of that decade, salmon and steelhead and bull trout populations were listed as threatened or en- dangered in three-quarters of the state. Those listings set off the ANSWER Ride formation of the Salmon Recovery Funding Board to oversee state and federal investments in salmon recov- ery. Funding for the grants comes from the Legislature- authorized sale of state bonds and from the federal Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, which National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service administers. XL Phi l l y Pi zza Onl y $ 20 9 9 Must present coupon. Not valid with any other off ers. Expires 1/15/20. 5 41-29 6 -0 0 9 9 THE LINK $ 1 50 ONLY Public Transit one way The Dalles Bus Stops • The Dalles Transit Center • Near Goodwill • Columbia Gorge Community College • Mid Columbia Medical Center • Veterans Service Offi ce Call 541-296-7595 MCEDD.org/linktransit MARTIN-MARIET TA W h o s W h o ’ ALUMINUM CO. C R G D O N’ T MISS IT!! OLUMBIA IVER ORGE 2020 ER IA RIV GORG Plan now to be a part of this popular annual publication that highlights businesses and the hard-working people that make The Gorge special. E O H W S ' O H W 2019 B COLUM Reservation Deadline is January 31 AIR DJ’S REP 38 TIO NG CREA SPARKLI 39 COUSIN’ 40 NS S INN D SP 2ND WIN 41 ORTS RESERVE YOUR AD SPACE TODAY! 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