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TD boys, girls take first at Madras | A9 ▶ Guess new History Mystery | A5 Weekend $1.00 February 1-2, 2020 The Dalles, Oregon www.thedalleschronicle.com Vol. 229, Issue 10 Law firm named to provide city legal services Transition to begin now; city attorney retires in March Gibson ■ By The Mark Dalles Chronicle Following an unsuccessful recruitment to fill the city attorney position upon the retirement of City Attorney Gene Parker in March, The City of The Dalles’ council approved a service contract with Campbell Phillips, PC, of The Dalles to provide the city with legal services at their regular meeting Jan. 27. The transition from Parker to Campbell Phillips will begin immediately. The firm was one of two re- sponders to a request for qualifi- cations, and were recommended unanimously by a subcommittee made up of Mayor Rich Mays, coun- cilors Linda Miller and Russ Brown, City Manager Julie Kruger and City Attorney Parker. Kristen Campbell said she has worked as an attorney for 19 years, with a focus on municipal law and public sector law in general. She came to The Dalles six years ago to work for Wasco County. “I had an opportunity to become immersed in the community, and I enjoyed that so much that a year ago, I and my law partner Kiffanie Phillips opened a law firm in The Dalles,” she said. “We’re very excited about this opportunity,” Campbell told the council. “We are prepared to start, with as much overlap with the current attorney as possible.” She spoke to the council with firm attorney Diana McDougle and MCFR logo legal bill $88K By Neita Cecil The Dalles Chronicle The fire district has spent $88,269 so far bringing a lawsuit against its union over the use of logos. The Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue board released the figure earlier this week, after a retired fire district division chief made a public records request asking for it. The retired chief, Dan Hammel, told the fire board at its Jan. 27 meeting that it was “embarrassing” that he couldn’t give a “logical ex- planation” to people for a lawsuit over a “ridiculous issue,” especially after the fire district went to voters for a bond to buy fire apparatus. He said voters during the bond campaign were “told the district was unable to put money away for replacement apparatus and facility maintenance.” The district filed the suit last summer, alleging the Mid- Columbia Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 1308, had wrongly adopted the district’s trademarked logo for its own use. The union and fire district each say they commissioned and used their respective logos first. Both logos feature the same See LOGO, page A9 New rules take effect in OR US Supreme Court lifts injunction on ‘public charge’ rule The U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 27 issued a ruling that lifted the injunction on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s public charge rule—a rule that makes it more difficult for immigrants to get green cards in Oregon and elsewhere. Federal appeals courts had pre- viously issued injunctions block- ing the rule. The ruling means the policy can go into effect in every state except for Illinois, which is covered by a separate See RULES, page A2 INSIDE James Foster, both of whom will be working with the city and met with the subcommittee. Councilor Rod Runyon noted that he had worked with Campbell as a Wasco County commissioner, when she worked with the county. “She is great, with a lot of experience in municipal law.” Councilor Miller, who was on the subcommittee that met with the firm’s attorneys, said she was skeptical of the idea. “I was hesitant to go with an outside law firm to do our legal services, but having met (the attorneys) I was very impressed, and I am fully on board,” she said. The council approved the con- tract unanimously, with one absten- tion due to a conflict of interest. “We’re looking forward to work- Attorneys Diana McDougle, left, and Kristen Campbell of Campbell Phillips ing with you going forward,” Mays Attorneys at Law speak before The Dalles City Council during their Jan. 27 told the presenting attorneys as he meeting at City Hall. The firm was hired to provide legal services for the city. adjourned the meeting. Mark B. Gibson photo Community rallies for The Dalles City undaunted by second-place finish Gibson ■ By The Mark Dalles Chronicle the crowd. “This is really exciting, this is the first time in decades we have needed to seat people in the balcony!” Remodeling of the theater con- tinues in the upstairs balcony, and about half the seating was ready for “Look at what we did, together!” use and was pressed into service to seat the standing-room-only crowd. That was the rallying cry of Don A video feed of Small Business Warren, president of The Dalles Revolution co-host Amanda Main Street, as he addressed a Brinkman was broadcast to the full house in the Civic Auditorium stage and the winner announced: Theater Tuesday evening as the Fredonia, N.Y. community gathered to learn Returning to the stage after the whether the city would be the featured town on Season 5 of Small announcement, Warren reiterated his rallying cry, gesturing to the Business Revolution, an online crowd and noting that The Dalles video program. didn’t win, “But look at what we Warren thanked a host of com- did, together! The things we can do munity groups, businesses, local media and others who helped bring here are unlimited.” He then invited The Dalles Mayor The Dalles into the top-five cities Rich Mays to the stage. being considered for the program. “I’m the mayor of the greatest city The city was competing against in the United States,” Mays said. He four other U.S. towns: Benicia, told the crowd that in his 40 years of Calif.; Fredonia, N.Y.; Livingston, public service, attending gatherings Mont.; and Spearfish, S.D. To win, and events in the Midwest and the The Dalles had to receive the most online votes during a public voting Oregon Coast, “I’ve never seen a community come together like I’ve period that ended Jan. 21. As the time of the announcement seen The Dalles come together in the last month. neared, community members “This is a start,” he said. “There began standing along the walls of are a lot of things going on here— the theater’s main floor, and Civic now let’s go and do great things. Executive Director Skot Barker Fredonia may have gotten more took the stage. “I’d like to invite all votes, but there is no way they had Don Warren of The Dalles Main Street addresses a capacity crowd at The Dalles those standing in the aisles to take more spirit than The Dalles.” Civic Auditorium theater Tuesday night. Mark B. Gibson photo their seats in the balcony,” he told Center strives for community engagement Gibson ■ By The Mark Dalles Chronicle You’re never too young to take part in the services and activities available at the Mid-Columbia Senior Center in The Dalles. “We are open to all ages, although our primary focus is older adults, and we are working on re-branding ourselves as ‘The Center,’” said Executive Director Scott McKay. “We have heard peo- ple say, ‘the Senior Center is just for old people, and I’m not old!’ But age doesn’t matter.” The confusion comes, in part, from the longstanding associa- tion between the Center and The Dalles Meals on Wheels program, a nonprofit which prepares and serves noon meals in the Center dining area for anyone over 60 with a donation of $3.75. Although the Center provides a home for the Meals on Wheels program and a weekly Thursday night Bingo fundraiser, the two entities are independent of each other: Meals on Wheels is funded In the Sky Opinion History separately and leases the kitchen and dining space from the Center. All other programs hosted at the Center are open to all ages, McKay said. “The Center is a great place to meet people who may have common experiences. Our mission is to enhance the community by sharing and caring, and we do that by providing opportunities for all generations to explore, connect and contribute to their community.” A revised logo emphasizes the community focus of “The Center.” What programs? There are a lot of them, said Joan Silver, vice president of the Center’s board of directors. “The general Meal-A-Month Raffle community does not know what we Three chances to win 12 $25 gift certificates from local restaurants. do here.” Tickets one for $10, three for $25. Available at the Center and from board Here are many of their current members. Drawing Friday, Feb. 7, 6 p.m., with drinks and appetizers, services and activities: Loan Closet The Center operates a loan closet for durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches, commodes, toilet sponsored by NW Natural. Participating restaurants include Beachwood Eatery, Casa El Mirador, Bargeway Pub, Montira’s Thai, Hiway House, Last Stop, Cousins’ The Riv, Denny’s, Shari’s, Route 30 Bottles and Brew, Clock Tower Ales, Zim’s Brau Haus, Baldwin Saloon, Momma Jane’s, Canton Wok, The Barbecue, Big Jim’s, Spooky’s Pizza and Kobe. Fundraiser for the Mid-Columbia Senior Center, 1112 W. 9th St., The Dalles. See CENTER, page A3 A2 A4 A5 Obituaries Comics Sports A7 A8 A9