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About Columbia Gorge news. (The Dalles, OR) 2020-current | View Entire Issue (April 28, 2021)
Columbia Gorge News www.columbiagorgenews.com Wednesday, April 28, 2021 B5 Cougars killed in Klickitat County Report ■ Staff Columbia Gorge News The Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office responded to two separate cougar sightings in the month of March. Sheriff Bob Songer wrote in a news release that the killings were justified in the matter of public safety in the two incidents. On March 7, 2021, the County Dispatch Center received a call of a cougar sighting next to a residence on Sunset Drive just outside of Goldendale. Deputy Dustin Vorce responded to the call. Deputy Vorce stated the complaining party in- form him that she was sitting in her office room when a mountain lion (cougar) walked just outside her window at the base of her house. Deputy Vorce checked around the outside of the complainant’s residence but did not locate the cougar. Just as Deputy Vorce was about to leave the area, another complaint came into the County Dispatch Center about anoth- er cougar sighting on Clyde Story Road just outside of Goldendale. This most likely was the the same cougar that was seen at Sunset Drive a short time earlier. However, this time the cougar was seen going under a porch at a residence on Clyde Story Road. One of the Sheriff’s Office hound han- dler’s were called to see if he could assist in locating the cougar. However, Deputy Vorce arrived at the Clyde Story road residence and located the cougar under the back porch of the residence prior to the hound handler’s arrival. Deputy Vorce euthanized the cougar with his firearm in the interest of public safety. Deputy Randy Wells transport- ed the cougar and turned it over to the Washington State Wildlife Agency. On March 19, 2021, Songer received a phone call from a Centerville area resi- dent that he and a friend shot a cougar that was under the house where the foundation skirting was missing. Songer informed the reporting party that he would have a deputy dispatched to the residence to take a report, according to the press release. Sergeant Joe Riggers responded to the residence on Dalles Mountain road where the cougar was killed. Sergeant Riggers stated that there were domestic animals on the property as well as a large number of cattle on both sides of the res- idence. Sergeant Riggers further stated that the evidence shows that the cougar was shot and killed while it was under the residence. The cougar was turned over to Washington State Wildlife Agent Dan Bolton. Songer said the agency has received numerous complaints in regards to cougar sightings in Goldendale, town of Klickitat, Bingen-White Salmon, Glenwood, Husum, and other neighbor- hoods throughout Klickitat County. “This is a serious PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN,” said Songer in the release. . “In 2019, I established a program in accordance with Washington State Law, (RCW 77.15.245(2a), which allows better protection for Public Safety, the protec- tion of domestic animals and livestock within and throughout Klickitat County from Dangerous Wildlife,” Songer wrote. “The Sheriff’s Office responds to all com- plaints where cougar or bear are a threat to public safety, domestic animals and livestock.” Sex offender arrested in TD A resident of The Dalles was booked into Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility on 11 counts each of encouraging child sexual abuse in the first and second degree. Gregg Martin Jensen, 70, was arrested April 2 at his residence on 805 Court street. Jensen is being held on bond in the amount of $330,000. Sergeant Austin Ell of The Dalles City Police said the agency worked with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to per- form the investigation into Jensen. With the collabo- ration efforts, the partners were able to figure out that “specific images were found in connection to the investigation.” “Their group is incredible on that,” Ell said of ICAC. “We appreciate their work.” Ell confirmed that there are no local victims in con- nection to the case. Jensen had a plea hearing April 15 but was postponed to May 4. Sexual Assault Awareness Month Helping Hands Against Violence, a non-profit that has been based in Hood River for 40 years and serves the Gorge region, shone a light on sexual assault during the month of April with a variety of activities that included tying teal ribbons to trees in down- town Hood River with “love letters” attached — notes of encouragement or quotes from survivors — that included Helping Hands’ information at the bottom. “Dear Survivor, you are not alone. Ever,” begins one such love letter. “It is not your fault. You deserve to feel loved, safe and val- ued. It is okay to have mixed feelings. There is no right or wrong way to feel about this. We believe in you.” Helping Hands Against Violence has a 24- hour crisis hotline, 541-386-6603, for those needing to talk to someone or are seeking shelter. SUBSCRIBE April 21 — W. Cherry Heights Road, 1900 block — Male cited for dog as a public nuisance for killing a chicken. Assaults, harassment, menacing and domestic violence: April 16 — W. Highway 30 — Domestic dispute reported. April 16 — Celilo Village Road — Assault reported. April 17 — Celilo Village Road — Disturbance reported. April 17 — Chenowith Creek Road and Sevenmile Hill — Harassment reported. April 19 — Sevenmile Hill Road — Disturbance reported. April 20 — S.E. Second Street, Dufur — Harassment reported. April 20 — Wallace Street, Wasco — Male arrested for domestic assault IV. April 21 — Sevenmile High Road — Harassment reported. April 23 — Fifteen Mile Road — Disturbance report- ed. A medic was requested. Disorderly conduct, mis- chief, criminal trespass and vandalism: April 17 — Spur Road — Verbal warning given to campers in wildland urban interface no camping area. They were given two hours to relocate. April 17 — White River Fire Closure — Five verbal warnings and one written warning issued to mush- room pickers. April 19 — Antelope — Trespass reported. April 19 — Digger Road, 2000 block, Mosier — Trespass reported. April 20 — W. Highway 30, 4300 block — Unwanted subject reported. The subject was unaware it was a private drive and was escorted out of the area. April 20 — Bret Clodfelter Way — Disorderly conduct reported. April 21 — S.E. Heimrich Street, 100 block, Dufur — Male and female trespassed from a property. April 21 — Threemile Road, 2500 block — Trespass reported. SUDOKU HOW TO PLAY: Each row, column and set of 3-by-3 boxes must containthe numbers 1 through 9 without repetition. Need exposure? Reserve this ad space one week in advance, and support this popular feature. Sales@GorgeNews.com April 22 — Mill Creek Road — Unwanted subject reported. Driving under the influ- ence of intoxicants: April 22 — Bakeoven Road, 300 block, Maupin — Intoxicated subject reported to have attempted to buy alcohol. Motor vehicle crashes, incidents, offenses and impounds: April 17 — I-84 at mile- post 76 — Vehicle vs. elk reported. April 18 — Highway 216 at milepost 23 — Male cited for speeding (75 mph in a 55 mph zone). April 22 — Mariposa Drive, Tygh Valley — Hit and run reported to a mailbox. Theft, burglary or robbery: April 16 — Fifteenmile Road, 3800 block — Theft of a catalytic converter from a bus reported. Cost was estimated at $5,000. April 20 — Sunset Valley Drive, 700 block — Stolen vehicle reported. The igni- tion had been cut and the catalytic converter stolen. April 20 — Sevenmile Hill and Chenowith Creek Road — Stolen vehicle located. Other: April 16-22 — Wasco County — Deputies responded to one mental health and four welfare check calls. April 20 — Spur Road — Warning issued for unattended campfire and a second warning issued for a vehicle with expired tags and no fenders. for less than a fancy cup of coffee per month. subscribe@gorgenews.com 541-296-2141 ext. 112 c gn Columbia Gorge News ColumbiaGorgeNews.com 401K Life Insurance Annuities Serving your Individual and Business Financial needs. 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