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About Columbia Gorge news. (The Dalles, OR) 2020-current | View Entire Issue (March 3, 2021)
12 Wednesday,March3,2021 Columbia Gorge News www.columbiagorgenews.com With snowcat’s help, officers track down suspect on forest road report ■ Staff Columbia Gorge News pursuit as I believed she was going to continue driving recklessly,” he said in his log report. A lengthy pursuit by OSP The driver went west on cruiser, county SUV, and Eightmile Road, north onto snowcat resulted in the arrest Feb. 26 of a 52-year-old Walston Grade Road, and Madras woman in the snowy back south on Pine Hollow forested area about five miles Road towards Eightmile Road. Swiger lost visual of the off Eightmile Road. Jeep on Pine Hollow Road Trooper Jonathan Swiger was heading south on US 197 and began checking the area near milepost 12 at 2:55 a.m. for the vehicle. He saw fresh Crestline Construction crews work in early 2020 to replace water main lines in the downtown core of tracks in the gravel heading when a black Jeep Wrangler White Salmon. The City of White Salmon recently approved closing the project, and secured a USDA heading northbound crossed west on Eightmile Road, loan that funded the project with a $2.73 million water revenue bond. White Salmon Enterprise photo/file into his lane, nearly crashing Walston Grade, and Pleasant Ridge Road and followed the into him head-on, Swiger reported in an OSP log entry. tracks to the forest boundary. The tracks continued west The Jeep Wrangler then nearly crashed head on into into the Mt. Hood National Forest on USFS Road 4440. a log truck that was behind Wasco County Deputy Ray Swiger, he reported. He turned around and overtook Randall arrived and Swiger told him the OSP vehicle did the Jeep at milepost 7, the driver of the Jeep was travel- not have enough clearance to continue. ing approximately 85 miles About five miles from the per hour before turning west onto Eightmile Road. Swiger forest boundary, Randall’s SUV got stuck in the snow activated emergency lights and siren but the driver kept and the tracks continued. By Jacob Bertram Columbia Gorge News “I know this area very original terms and conditions going at approximately 60 contributing $266,739.68 well and suspected the to show a decrease in the mph, failing to drive within from its own coffers. driver was also stuck a short bond’s interest rate, amorti- her lane, Swiger reported. During the meeting, The City of White Salmon distance from us,” Swiger “Due to the reckless Councilor Jan Ransier ques- zation factor, and principal approved the closing of said. A snowcat driver from driving I observed prior to United States Department tioned why the meeting was amount, which cut the city’s attempting to stop the driver, the Columbia Gorge Power of Agriculture (USDA) loan agreed-upon monthly pay- labeled as a special meet- Sledders responded to assist I decided to engage in a documents and acknowl- ments by just over 65-per- ing, to which City Clerk Jan cent. The city was originally edged the Jewett Street Water Brending said it was about timing, saying if the action approved for a $3.19 million Main Improvement project bond. as complete during a special had waited until the Mar. 3 council meeting, the city The approval of such ac- meeting of the city council would have had to pay more tion items mark the culmina- last Thursday. As part of the final closing in interest due to the different tion of a years-long effort to closing deadlines with USDA replace water main lines that process, White Salmon City and North Cascade Bank, the run along Jewett Boulevard Councilors unanimously city’s interim financier. approved a resolution and in White Salmon’s downtown “So the timing here is very core. The project saw 12-inch ordinance issuing a water revenue bond in the amount tricky,” said Brending. “It’s water mains replace thinner not uncommon to have a of $2,731,000. The bond will rural areas. lines, which were nearing the By Kirby Neumann-Rea Columbia Gorge News special meeting, particularly end of their service life and then be used to secure the “Our previous efforts to USDA loan and pay back the for these USDA loans.” bring these issues to your had been historically a source The issuance of a water principal payments on the of leaks. The replacement of State Sen. Chuck Thomsen attention have gone unac- USDA loan which funded the revenue bond replaces the those mains with larger ones (R-Pine Grove) said he and knowledged. Thus, we are interim financing with a per- help for fire flow, according water main project. fellow Republicans will be protesting today’s floor ses- The bond has a lifetime to project documents, and in attendance as scheduled, manent financing solution, sion. In this show of solidarity of 40 years and will bear a decrease water pressure, virtually or in-person, when said Scott McJannet, repre- with Oregonians who are 1.75-percent interest rate on sentative with K&L Gates, which city officials cited as the Oregon Legislature’s work being failed by the current the unpaid principal amount, which prepared the bond a health hazard to City staff week starts March 1. direction of your policies, we which the city will pay back working on the system, and Thomsen described as hope this action conveys the paperwork. monthly, according to the exasperate the leaks. symbolic the one-day walk- importance of these issues.” “It’s a very clean reso- ordinance. Additional fire hydrants Thomsen has booked a lution and USDA came out on Thursday by 11 State In total, the project, with motel room for two or three through very nicely this week were installed along Jewett Senators. The Hood River construction performed by nights per week in March as adjusting down the payment boulevard and pressure-re- County legislator character- Crestline Construction and the Senate and House mem- schedule and the interest ducing valve systems were in- ized the walkout as being project management by rate, so you’re well-packaged stalled on Jewett Boulevard, a statement about what bers move to a twice-weekly Walla Walla-based Anderson in,” said McJannet. In council Vine street, and Oak street. the GOP feels is excessive schedule. Perry & Associates, under- documents, an email from a executive authority by the Through February, the USDA representative shows Democratic Gov. Kate Brown legislators were scheduled to went six change orders and regarding COVID regulations. hold business one day a week had a final price-tag just shy that the USDA office for Rural Development amended the “We’d (Republicans) like at the Capitol, on alternat- of $3 million, with the city to help out but they have ing days in order to reduce taken that power away. It was the number of legislators a one-day deal just to make and their staff needed to a point,” Thomsen said. He be present in the building. added that “everyone was Eastern Oregon legislators doing committee work, they have not been expected to be just didn’t show up for the 11 physically present, due to the a.m. roll call.” coronavirus and the restrict- According to a story in ed working conditions and Series begins the Portland newspaper The schedules that come with it. posts and other material.” 7-8 a.m. Oregonian, the 11 absent Takeaways from these “The most Where quorums are need- Friday, March 5 GOP Senate caucus members ed, the “close-in” legislators sessions include making popular signed a letter to the gover- professional-level multime- posts on — Willamette Valley and The Dalles Area Chamber social media dia pieces in less than two Portland — have shown up of Commerce has teamed nor in which they insisted are pictures to make sure of quorums, he up with the Small Business minutes, adding depth and she “immediately reopen and videos, said. Development Center at interest to your boring social schools because science and with a Thomsen said he has been Columbia Gorge Community media posts, transforming says it’s safe,” and increase few easy (and ordinary photos into works of the amount of COVID-19 to the Capitol only once since College to bring national- Beth Z free!) tech the session started, a day he art, and creating infographics vaccines available to older ly-known speaker Beth Z tools, you can transform your for little to no cost. preferred to make personal Oregonians, especially in to The Dalles. She will be messages into share-worthy Sign up at thedallescham- presenting “29 Tech Tools graphics that will put your to Create Cool Content for ber.com/nerdy-z-virtual- organization out in front,” Social Media.” event. For more information, Anyone interested is invit- said a press release. “This ac- contact The Dalles Area tion-packed session will give Chamber of Commerce at ed to sign up for a two-part session for $10 (usually $39). you dozens of sites and apps 541-296-2231 or marketing@ that will help you elevate the thedalleschamber.com. The series is scheduled for quality of your social media March 5 and March 12 from White Salmon accepts water main project as complete ■ and the operators located the Jeep and driver about a mile west of where Swiger and Randall were stuck. They were picked up by the snowcat and provided a ride to the Jeep’s location. The driver was attempting to get the Jeep unstuck by driving it back and forth. The driver was taken into custody with- out incident, Swiger said. “The driver admitted the reason she attempted to elude was because she knew she had a warrant for her arrest. The driver told me the reason she crossed into my lane was she fell asleep,” he reported. The snowcat operators hooked up to the Jeep and transported officers and arrestee to USFS Road 44 where they were met by Wasco Deputy Nolan Ward, who transported the driver and lodged Jody Lee Speck, 50, at NORCOR on charges of attempting to elude, reckless endangering, reckless driv- ing, and the parole violation. The Jeep, which was a rental, was towed for safe keeping. The snowcat operators took the officers back to the stuck patrol SUV and pulled it out. Chuck Thomsen: one- day GOP walkout ‘just to make a point’ ■ Nationally-known speaker comes (virtually) to TD Gorge Athletic Clubs are a vital part of the solution to the current health crisis. More than ever before it is critical to take control of your own health.You hold the power to boost your immune system and reduce stress and anxiety by exercising regularly. With nearly 40,000 sq feet, we have room to provide a wide variety of exercise options with safe physical distancing. Hospital grade disinfectants and protocols help keep our members safe. Join Gorge Athletic Clubs with no long term contract and take control of your health today! “In a world where you can be anything, be kind!” Dianna Risley | General Manager Gorge Athletic Clubs THE DALLES | HOOD RIVER GorgeAthleticClubs.com The Dalles 541.298.8508 | Hood River 541.386.3230 contact rather than the usual phone or Zoom. As of this week, the Senate will gather Wednesday and Thursday and the House on Monday and Tuesday, according to Thomsen. Legislators have conduct- ed business remotely, and Thomsen, a pear orchardist, attempts to maintain distinct “Salem” hours while working from home. He joked that it does not always work, saying, “Everyone expects me to do two full-time jobs,” since he is present at the Eastside Road ranch almost all the time. Thomsen also said he has been surprised and disappointed at the lack of apparent participation via Zoom in the business of the Legislature by rural residents. “It’s really difficult working bills virtually. The lobby’s not involved, agencies are not necessarily involved,” he said. “We had 300 people sign up to talk about one gun bill and we made it through between 50-100 and that’s all the time we had. "You don’t get all that public testimony. I thought more people would get in on Zoom, and it would be easier for the Pendleton or Ontario people to go on, but I’m see- ing less public input.” Restaurant GUIDE EGG RIVER CAFÉ “Breakfast of champions” – New York Times Family friendly. Extensive breakfast & lunch menus. Organic eggs, omelets HOOD RIVER TAQUERIA made with love, pancakes, waffles, MEXICAN RESTAURANT skillets, eggs benedict, organic coffee, Featuring fine authentic Mexican food and espresso, soups, salads, sandwiches, cocktails. Spacious outdoor seating. hamburgers. 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