Columbia Gorge News
www.columbiagorgenews.com
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
B5
THE CITY COUNCIL: A SERIAL NARRATIVE OF RURAL LIFE IN THE AMERICAN WEST
Episode 152: Remembering a Tootie and Gus Debate
By Jim Tindall
■ Governance
debates be-
tween Tootie McDaniels and
Gus Chapman were lively
and entertaining, but sadly,
short lived. These verbal
duals of the council cham-
ber could land somewhere
between rams butting heads,
strident, obstreperous —
and Gore Vidal and William
F. Buckley, Jr, who could, at
times, be jocular, sparing,
articulate wits from political
poles. Tootie and Gus were
both Republicans, but Tootie
had fervent Libertarian
leanings, which made her
myopic in the support of
funding long range infra-
structure improvements.
Gus had once muttered
to her after a meeting when
the chamber was empty of
constituents, half in advice,
half as a taunt, “Generally,
when one says something
flip or stupid in this cham-
ber, maybe in all places for
all cases, you’re generally
screwed, maybe not with
your mother, but certainly
with constituents.”
Her response, ‘Go kiss a
frog.’
She once squawked about
the sex education program
in the schools, funded in
part by the city, part by
the state, and part from
the giving of the DuMont
Foundation. She blurted
that this instruction was
socialism.
Gus sighed. “No, Ms.
McDaniels. Socialism is
public education itself. You
know, like Medicare and the
United States Postal Service.”
She stared at him, made
cross-eyes, speechless.
Tootie had little concern
for things like garbage and
wastewater, aspects of city
life best left to someone else,
a philosophy that would
get under Gus’s skin. She
preferred to focus on the
health of the economy, on
the outward appearances of
government, not the neglect
of the skeletal elements of
the town. Yet, as Gus was
quick to point out, “You let
the digestive tract go, and
there goes everything.”
There was a meeting in
which the Public Works
Department came to the
council asking for money
because of a sewage line
break between Uptown
and Downtown, creating
an odiferous hazard and an
actual public health danger.
The figure foe repair was
astounding to every city
councilor.
Tootie coughed and sput-
tered. “You mean to tell me
we have to pay millions to
repair that leak?”
It was in the written
report, which apparently
Tootie neglected to read,
and that irritated Gus, who
could get haughty when his
ire rose.
“Ms. McDaniels,” he be-
gan. “The heartbreaking cost
of this repair is due to the
corrosion of old pipe stretch-
ing from the intersection
of Upriver Road and Beech
Street down to Mt. Rushing
Highway and Albatross
Street, quite a stretch.”
“Can’t we just patch that?”
she asked.
“Patching is what you do
to dungarees and bicycle
tires. That would not be the
way we do things here, in
fact. We’re talking of over a
mile of new pipe and intakes
and all of the work done by
union labor.”
“Unions!” she exclaimed.
“What have unions done but
undone the Republic?”
Mayor Orin Holman let
the give and take proceed.
Not only informative, it was
clearly entertaining to every-
one in the room, unionists
aside.
Gus rebutted, “While
you may not appreciate
unions, they made America
great. I am in business too;
I understand your position,
but often the worker needs
protection, and in numbers
there is strength, but that
is not the real point of this
agenda item. We have a
broken sewer, and unless
we make a thorough repair
and — and improve our
monitoring of existing lines,
we shall be living this state of
incredulousness again.”
Tootie rolled her eyes.
“Oh, Mr. Chapman. You slay
me. Incredulousness? That’s
a twenty-dollar word! Now,
I want a healthy world of
wastewater as much as the
next person, but this is a lot
of money.”
Gus nodded, “And there
are federal and state grants
for which we may apply,
but regardless, this matter
is Warhaven’s responsi-
bility to solve.” He smiled.
“Remember, Tootie,
Small government is good
government.”
She smiled, knowing
Gus had struck her on her
libertarian funny bone. “I
suppose I see your point,
Gus, but what do we cut
from the budget to make this
repair?”
Orin struck the gavel to
the tabletop. “That will be
a matter for the Budget
Committee to wrestle with
next Monday evening. I
will ask members of the
Wastewater Committee to be
in attendance and partici-
pate. Have we exhausted this
debate?”
Gus and Tootie signaled
that the bantering was over.
again. The male was advised
he would either be mov-
ing along tomorrow or be
trespassed.
Jan. 5 — E. Ninth. 1900
block — Vehicle reported
stolen out of Clark County
found and towed.
Jan. 5 — E. 10th, 300 block
— Theft of a security system
reported.
Jan. 5 — W. Verdant Street,
1000 block — Possible car
prowl reported.
Jan. 6 — E. 10th, 1400
block — Stolen packages
from a porch reported.
Jan. 6 — Taylor Lake —
Stolen vehicle recovered.
Jan. 6 — W. Sixth — Stolen
firearms reported.
Jan. 7 — W. Sixth, 3800
block — Gas was siphoned
from a truck.
an agency assist for a stolen
motorcycle. The suspect was
later found by KCSO and the
motorcycle retrieved.
Jan. 3 — Wamic Grade
— Oregon State Police
attempted to pull over a
vehicle without lights on.
The vehicle passed at a high
rate of speed with no lights.
After eluding law enforce-
ment, a subject was lodged
at NORCOR.
Jan. 4 — Lane County —
Springfield Area Command
notified deputies regarding
the warrant arrest of a male
(attempt to elude, assault IV,
possession of methamphet-
amine and theft II). The male
was given a court date in
Wasco County.
NORCOR on a valid circuit
court warrant for failure to
appear (driving under the
influence).
Jan. 7 — W. Highway 30,
5500 block — Male cited and
released for a misdemeanor
failure to appear warrant out
of Clackamas County.
Other:
Dec. 31 — Oak Hill Drive,
1300 block — Cows at large
reported.
Jan. 5 — Celilo Village
Road — A dog was reported
to have been shot by a neigh-
bor with a BB gun.
were picked up and placed
in a sharps container by law
enforcement.
Jan. 1 — E. Highway 216,
82000 block — Disorderly
conduct reported.
Jan. 2 — Highway 197,
1500 block — Trespass
reported. A hole was cut in a
fence and copper wire taken.
Jan. 3 — Oak Park Lane,
300 block, Tygh Valley —
Disorderly conduct reported.
Jan. 6 — Dry Hollow Road,
2600 block — Criminal
mischief reported. Someone
drove through an orchard
and caused damage, leaving
behind beer bottles and a
license plate.
Jan. 7 — Fifteenmile
Road — Unwanted subjects
reported. There were three
different camps set up in the
area.
POLICE REPORTS CONTINUED
block — Male returned to a
property from which he had
been previously trespassed.
Jan. 7 — Lincoln Street,
300 block — Male cited for
criminal trespass II.
Jan. 7 — W. Sixth, 1200
block — Transient with card-
board laid out in front of a
business reported. The male
refused to leave at an offi-
cer’s request and was cited
and released for trespassing.
Jan. 7 — W. Sixth —
Disturbance reported.
A female was counseled
regarding not yelling and
threatening people. She was
later reported to be having a
mental crisis and damaged
several items in a room
where she was staying. She
was trespassed from the
property.
Driving under
the influence of
intoxicants:
Jan. 1 — E. 11th and Dry
Hollow Road — Female
arrested for driving under
the influence of intoxicants
and lodged at NORCOR.
Methamphetamine was
found on her person at
NORCOR and she was cited
and released for driving
under the influence of
drugs and possession of
methamphetamine.
Jan. 2 — W. Sixth, 1200
block — Male arrested for
driving under the influence
of intoxicants.
Jan. 3 — W. 10th, 900
block — Male arrested and
lodged at NORCOR for
driving under the influence
of intoxicants. BAC regis-
tered .12 percent. He was
cited and released to a sober
driver at NORCOR.
Motor vehicle crashes,
incidents, offenses
and impounds:
Dec. 31 — W. Sixth, 3300
block — Vehicle in a ditch
reported. The vehicle was
towed.
Jan. 1 — W. Sixth, 1200
block — Traffic crash report-
ed. A subject requested an
officer to assist with infor-
mation exchange. When law
enforcement arrived, both
vehicles were gone.
Jan. 1 — Cherry Heights
Road, 600 block — Motor
vehicle accident reported.
Jan. 3 — W. Sixth, 1400
block — A vehicle stalled
and died in a business entry-
way. The vehicle owner ap-
proved an officer to call for a
tow but said he did not have
the money for the tow and
that the tow company could
keep the vehicle. While wait-
ing for the tow driver, the
vehicle owner left the scene.
The tow company loaded the
vehicle. The officer returned
to explain what the owner
had advised.
Jan. 4 — W. Sixth, 3300
block — Hit and run
reported.
Jan. 4 — W. Sixth, 3900
block — Non-injury traffic
crash reported.
Jan. 6 — W. Sixth, 1300
block — Officer requested a
tow for a female locked out
of a vehicle.
Jan. 7 — Sixth Street
— Motor vehicle crash
reported.
Jan. 7 — W. Second, 100
block — Hit and run report-
ed. The subject was located
and stated they were un-
aware they had hit anyone.
Outstanding warrants,
parole, probation or
terms violations:
Jan. 4 — Webber Street,
200 block — Male cited
and released for a parole
violation warrant (unlawful
possession of marijuana and
unlawfully importing/ex-
porting marijuana items).
Jan. 5 — E. Seventh, 400
block — Male cited and
released on a failure to
appear warrant out of Wasco
County.
Jan. 6 — W. Sixth —
Female arrested on multiple
Wasco County warrants and
lodged at NORCOR.
Jan. 6 — Union Street,
400 block — Male cited and
released on a probation
violation warrant.
Theft, burglary
or robbery:
Dec. 31 — W. Sixth, 1300
block — Theft of services
reported. Someone filled
a business dumpster with
boxes.
Dec. 31 — Federal Street,
900 block — Theft of tools
reported.
Dec. 31 — Mt. Hood
Street, 500 block — Theft of
grapes and juice reported.
The suspect came back 10
minutes later and returned
the items.
Jan. 1 — W. Sixth, 1200
block — Male reported to
have stolen an ear-piercing
kit and earrings.
Jan. 1 — W. Sixth, 3600
block — Theft of a generator
reported.
Jan. 1 — E. 10th, 300
block — Theft of lightbulbs
reported.
Jan. 2 — W. Fifth Place,
1100 block — Stolen vehicle
reported.
Jan. 2 — W. Sixth, 300
block — Burglary reported.
Jan. 3 — E. Second, 3500
block — Stolen vehicle
reported.
Jan. 3 — W. Seventh,
3100 block — Stolen vehicle
reported.
Jan. 4 — W. Sixth, 1200
block — Shoplifting report-
ed. A male was cited and
released for theft III and ad-
vised he is no longer allowed
on business property.
Jan. 5 — Cherry Heights
Road, 500 block — A male
was reported to be yelling
and screaming outside a
business, later laying on the
ground after having a small
scuffle with an employee
who had asked him to leave.
The male was reported to
have been found in one of
the employee’s vehicles. A
report was taken for theft I.
Jan. 5 — W. sixth, 3500
block — Theft of services
reported. Several marijua-
na plants were found in a
recycling bin. A male was
contacted regarding trash
being disposed of in the
recycling bin. He apologized
and said it wouldn’t happen
Dec. 31-Jan. 1 — The
Dalles — Law enforcement
took six calls regarding
fireworks. Officers observed
illegal fireworks and several
subjects were contacted and
counseled.
Dec. 31-Jan. 7 — The
Dalles — Officers responded
to 77 welfare and/or mental
health calls.
Jan. 1 — E. 14th, 300 block
— A citation was issued
for minor in possession of
alcohol.
Jan. 1 — The Dalles —
Attempted suicide reported.
The subject voluntarily went
to the hospital.
Jan. 1 — W. Sixth — Male
given a ride to the hospital
at his request due to a manic
episode.
Jan. 1 — W. Sixth —
Unaccompanied minor
reported. The minor was
returned home.
Jan. 3 — W. Seventh —
Male cited for endangering
the welfare of a minor.
Jan. 3 — The Dalles —
Possible suicidal subject
reported.
Jan. 4 — W. 10th, 2700
block — Death reported.
Jan. 5 — Mt. Hood Street
— Male cited for drinking in
public.
Jan. 6 — W. Sixth, 1200
block — Male cited and re-
leased for drinking in public.
Jan. 6 — The Dalles —
Officers assisted a female
who requested a mental
health evaluation at the
hospital.
WASCO COUNTY
SHERIFF
Animal calls:
Assaults, harassment,
menacing and
domestic violence:
Dec. 31 — Wallace Street,
Wasco — Domestic dispute
reported.
Jan. 3 — Oak Park Lane,
Tygh Valley — Disturbance
reported. The parties were
separated.
Jan. 3 — E. 14th — Male
arrested and lodged at
NORCOR for violation of a
release agreement, domestic
assault IV and strangulation.
Jan. 4 — W. Chenowith
Creek Road — Domestic
dispute reported.
Jan. 4 — W. McDonald
Way — Harassment
reported.
Jan. 5 — N.E. Aikin Street,
Dufur — Disturbance
reported.
Controlled substance
violations (non-DUII):
Jan. 2 — Celilo Park —
Male lodged at NORCOR
on the charges of unau-
thorized use of a motor
vehicle, possession of heroin
and theft III. In the same
incident, a female was cited
and released for possession
of heroin and possession of
methamphetamine, and was
dropped off at the hospital
for a medical condition.
Agency assists:
Disorderly conduct,
mischief, criminal
trespass and
vandalism:
Jan. 1 — E. Second,
800 block, Biggs-Rufus —
Deputies assisted another
agency with a customer
causing a disturbance. A
male was arrested and phys-
ical force used.
Jan. 1 — Warm Springs
— Report of a vehicle stuck
in three feet of snow/mud
reported. The call was
transferred to Warm Springs
dispatch; the subjects were
located (agency assist).
Jan. 3 — Sevenmile Hill
Road — Klickitat County
Sheriff’s Office requested
Dec. 31 — Fifteenmile
Road, 4200 block — Twenty
tires dumped on the side of
the road reported. A second
pile was located about five
miles past the first pile (of-
fensive littering).
Jan. 1 — W. Chenowith
Loop Road, 800 block —
Criminal mischief reported.
A key was found in a vehi-
cle’s ignition broken off.
Jan. 1 — Carroll Road
and Digger Road, Mosier
— Dumped garbage by the
road reported. The garbage
contained five syringes that
Dec. 31 to Jan. 7
Identity theft or bank/
credit card fraud:
Dec. 31 — W. Murray
Drive, 1200 block — Theft
of checks from a mailbox
reported; the checks were
altered and cashed (bank
fraud).
Jan. 2 — Longview, Wash.
— Possible identity theft by
a Wasco County resident
reported.
Jan. 5 — W. Highway 30 —
Theft of social security and
stimulus money reported.
Jan. 7 — Reservation
Road, Maupin — Fraud
reported.
Jan. 7 — Highway 216,
82000 block — Theft of
checks and tools reported to
have happened in October. A
report was taken for forgery
and theft.
Motor vehicle crashes,
incidents, offenses
and impounds:
Jan. 3 — W. Chenowith
Creek Road, 4100 block
— A vehicle went over an
embankment and hit a tree.
One occupant reported
an injury. The vehicle was
towed and a property owner
advised of the damage to a
fence.
Jan. 4 — W. Emerson
Street, 1300 block — Male
and female warned for
improper equipment for two
motor bikes.
Jan. 7 — Sixth Street —
Two vehicle, non-injury
traffic crash reported.
Outstanding warrants,
parole, probation or
terms violations:
Jan. 1 — W. Cherry
Heights Road, 5600 block —
Report taken for a probation
violation.
Jan. 1 — Wasco County —
Restraining order violation/
domestic reported.
Jan. 2 — W. Cherry
Heights Road — Male lodged
at NORCOR for a parole
violation.
Jan. 2 — Foley Lakes
— Male issued a criminal
citation for an outstanding
warrant and released.
Jan. 4 — Wasco County —
Male served with a restrain-
ing order.
Jan. 5 — Hood River
— Male transported to
Search and rescue:
Jan. 2 — Bonney Meadows
Road/Forest Service Road
4891 — Vehicle reported
to be stuck in the snow.
Hood River County Sheriff’s
Office was also notified. The
subjects left the vehicle and
were walking on foot; all
were accounted for and no
search and rescue was need-
ed. The vehicle was towed.
Theft, burglary
or robbery:
Dec. 31 — Threemile
Road, 2500 block — Theft of
$200 worth of raw clay and
damage to a kiln reported.
Dec. 31 — Washington
Street, 500 block — Theft
reported.
Dec. 31 — Carroll Road,
Mosier — Stolen package
from a mailbox reported.
Jan. 2 — Columbia View
Drive, 3900 block — Theft of
items reported.
Jan. 2 — Root Road, 900
block, Mosier — Prowler
reported.
Jan. 3 — Boyd Loop
Road, 66000 block, Dufur —
Prowler reported.
Jan. 4 — Wasco County —
Stolen license plate out of
Portland recovered.
Jan. 4 — Boyd Loop Road,
66000 block, Dufur — Car
prowl reported. A subject
took off on foot.
Jan. 5 — Bakeoven Road,
90000 block, Maupin —
Theft of fuel reported.
Jan. 6 — Old Dufur Road,
4600 block — Mail theft
reported.
Jan. 6 — Highway 197,
1400 block — Pile of mail
located in a ditch. A postal
employee noticed the mail
and picked it up. Deputies
advised bringing the found
mail to the sheriff’s office,
and that deputies would
return it to rightful owners.
Jan. 7 — E. Wapinitia
Road, 82000 block, Maupin
— Theft of pigs reported.
Jan. 7 — Highway 30, 5500
block — Report taken for
unauthorized use of a motor
vehicle (stolen vehicle).
Other:
Dec. 31-Jan. 7 — Wasco
County — Deputies re-
sponded to four welfare
and/or mental health calls.
Dec. 31 — W. Chenowith
Creek Road, 4100 block —
Death reported.
Dec. 31 — Tygh Valley
— Deputies received five
fireworks complaints.
Jan. 2 — Digger Road,
Mosier — Four needles
reported as found, as well as
a credit card.
Jan. 4 — Dufur Valley
Road — Death reported.