Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Columbia Gorge News
www.columbiagorgenews.com
Foley Fire
CGCC board candidate
addresses past felony
Mark Gibson
■ By Columbia
Gorge News
Columbia Gorge
Community College position
1 candidate Frank E. Polehn
pled guilty in June 2010 to
attempt to commit a Class A
felony, the sexual abuse of
a minor, but told Columbia
Gorge News Friday, April 23,
his conviction should not
stop voters from supporting
his candidacy.
“In reality no, I went to jail
for something I didn’t do,”
he said. Pleading guilty was
“the easiest way out of the
situation,” he explained. As a
board member he would not
be working directly with kids,
A small home at the west end of Foley Lakes in The Dalles burns Wednesday afternoon, and if he did others would be
April 21, 2021. Crews from Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue and Dallesport Fire Department
responded to the fire. Homeowner William Hardy, 67, said everyone was able to exit the
home without injury, but noted the house was a total loss, and was uninsured because of
its age. "I've lost everything," he said as he watched his home burn. He lived in the house
for seven years. Cause of the fire was not immediately known.
Mark B. Gibson photo
present.
After serving time in
prison, Polehn was arrested
for a probation violation in
2015. He said that arrest was
because a councilor had
“accused him of lying,” a
violation of his parole, and he
served an extra two months,
he said.
Polehn then provided the
Columbia Gorge News with
a prepared statement, titled
“How to become a felon
by not doing what one is
accused of.” In that docu-
ment, he describes estrange-
ment with his wife and the
allegations made against him.
Faced with a 22-month sen-
tence, he wrote, “I decided
the best choice was to go to
TIMELINES
River resident Bonnie New
limits on extended
May 17 workshop endorsed
permits, suggesting the lack
of limits is counterproduc-
scheduled
tive. “Repeated and repeated
Continued from page 1 and repeated extensions
… waste county staff time
and resources at a level that
a permit, according to Eric
Walker, director of the coun- angers us county taxpayers,”
ty’s community development she said. Heather Staten, of
Thrive Hood River, a local
department.
land-use advocacy group,
As proposed, the initial
community forums were
approval and extension time said that the group appealed
McGeeney hired as be the new
superinten-
the DeeTour project after the
observed, either live or via
period would begin when
'great fit' for district dent
county approved the fourth
Zoom, by nearly seventy
all appeals are finished. If
of White
permit extension.
district staff and community projects are not completed
Salmon
By Jacob Bertram
Columbia Gorge News
Although they agreed
members, district officials
in time, the developer would
Valley
that clarity in the permitting
said. Observers ranked the
have to reapply for their
Schools.
process is warranted, not all
candidates and provided
permit.
“I am excit-
The White Salmon Valley
commissioners agreed with
written feedback to the
The current proposal
School Board voted unan-
ed to partner
Dr. Sean
the proposed time limits rec-
school board.
was prompted in part by
with our stu-
imously to hire Dr. Sean
McGeeney
“We were pleased to
appeals surrounding the
McGeeney as its next super- dents, staff,
ommended by the Planning
have two strong candidates
Apollo Land Holdings’
Commission.
families, and
intendent, district officials
DeeTour Amphitheater and
Commissioner Karen
community and look forward to choose from. We love
announced in an April 23
Hotel project, beginning
Joplin said she felt some
to hearing from and engaging McGeeney’s passion and
news release. McGeeney is
in 2013. Part of that project
of the ordinance changes
with everyone as full partners think he’ll be a great fit for
the Executive Director for
the district,” Board Chair Paul was denied by the Oregon
seemed “agenda-driven” to
P-12 Programs for the Yakima in ensuring every student
Mosbrucker said.
Land Use Board of Appeals
slow projects or stop devel-
succeeds. My family and I
School District.
The school board met in
and returned to the county
Recruiting firm Northwest are excited to move soon and
opment. Commissioner Bob
executive session immedi-
for revision. Other lengthy
establish new friendships,
Leadership Associates con-
Benton pointed out that lim-
iting the process to six years
ately following the interviews projects mentioned at the
ducted the district’s national enjoy the outdoors, and
April 19 Hood River County
favors large corporations
to review the input from the
search for a superintendent. contribute in many ways in
our community. Go Bruins!” community and staff, and to Commission meeting in-
that can afford to re-apply
The search yielded 11 appli-
discuss the merits of the two cluded Walmart’s expansion and supported the timeclock
cants for the position, five of McGeeney said. “
McGeeney and Keith
for permits that start after
candidates.
project in the City of Hood
those were from out of state.
Harris, assistant superin-
the last appeal. Benton also
After a lengthy and consid- River, which spanned more
Although three candidates
cited a potential conflict of
than 20 years.
were chosen to interview for tendent for Dickinson, N.D., erable discussion, the board
interest, as he is among local
In March 10 public
the position, one of them
selected McGeeney as the
interviewed for the posi-
investors in the DeeTour/
comments to the county’s
accepted another position
district’s next superinten-
tion April 22. The interview
Planning Commission, Hood Apollo project.
the day before White Salmon process consisted of a day of dent, according to a press
Valley’s interviews.
touring, interviewing with
release.
Following a request for
students, participating in
comment, McGeeney said
a community forum, and
in an email exchange: “I
interviewing with the school
am humbled and honored
board.
to have the opportunity to
The interviews and the
Next White Salmon
Superintendent selected
■
SUPPORTING
This year’s event will support Skyline’s Breast Health
Program. This essenal and life-saving program
provides assistance for breast cancer screenings and
diagnosc tests for under/uninsured individuals –
regardless of age or gender. It also supports the
purchase of the latest breast health technology,
which is vital for early detecon.
ts
• One or two weekends a
month can make a
difference!
eve n
• Online training offered
ti o n /
• Compensation provided
unda
• Hood River and
Wasco Counties
Be Ready! Sign in! Explore the event! Make a donaon!
View & Bid on Aucon Packages!
rg / fo
Provide weekend
care for teens at
The Next Door
Changes proposed to five
articles in the County Zoning
Ordinance impact develop-
ment rules for projects out-
side of farm and forest zones
by extending initial approval
periods up to four years,
affecting subdivisions, prop-
erty line adjustments, and
bed and breakfast facilities.
New rules set to be adopted
in the farm and forest zones,
including dwelling permits,
follow state guidelines which
in some cases allow less
time for completion than the
county allows.
Once staff updates the
ordinance, the commission-
ers will hold another work
session to consider it for in-
clusion in the new ordinance,
tentatively set for May 17.
A copy of the proposal is
on the county’s website, in
the Board of Commissioner’s
April 19 meeting packet.
Saturday, May 15, 6 p.m.
through Sunday, May 16, 9 p.m.
alth.o
Call 541-308-2207
nextdoorinc.org/fosterparent
prison knowing I did not be-
long there in exchange for the
knowledge it would be short-
ened to about 18 months for
good behavior.”
He said he pled guilty, but
it did not go as he was told it
would.
“I think there was unethi-
cal abusive attacks by higher
powers involved. But I lack
solid evidence as to where it
came from. In short, I pled
guilty rather than fight the ac-
cusations. I am still confident
I made the best choice to a no
win situation.”
Additional information on
his candidacy can be found
on page 11.
GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE!
Join Skyline Foundaon for its annual
virtual event “SHINE ON!”
linehe
r ents
a
p
r
e
fost
is to equip them for dealing
with their lives — whether it’s
through SEL, self-advocacy
or figuring out how to deal
with something they don’t
know — then I think we’ve
actually moved forward pret-
ty well,” Knowles said.
He credited Ell, Mobley,
Hume and many other
teachers in the district with
being comfortable trying new
things. He said that willing-
ness to adapt and collaborate
was key in finding success
this year.
“We really didn’t have a
map going forward, I think
we just sort of left a trail be-
hind us,” Knowles said.
All four teachers continue
to meet with others through-
out the district one Saturday
a month to share resources
and provide one-on-one help
to teachers who need extra
help with some of the new
technology.
Hume said helping other
teachers with technology of-
fered some of the profession-
ally fulfilling “Aha!” moments
they normally would have
experienced with students.
my s k y
involving technology and
communication.
One student contacted
Teachers adapt, Mobley
on a day off to ask
for help with an assignment,
collaborate
she said in the past she might
Continued from page 1 have had to seek that student
out.
“That level of self-advocacy
out their answer or they can
is a huge skill, and it’s really
leave me audio recordings,”
hard to ask for help,” Mobley
Hume said.
said.
“They can record them-
Knowles, Hume,
selves answering it and
Mobley and Ell are part of
discussing it or explaining
how they did something, and a “Professional Learning
Community” group and have
I’ve just found that’s been
compiled an online list of
so much more enlightening
to really help me know what tools for teachers from apps
and websites to articles about
they understand and what
teaching philosophy. They
they’re able to do,” she said.
listen to podcasts and read
Knowles, in his 29th year
educational journals, some-
with the district, said his
file cabinet full of multi-
times ideas come from social
ple-choice tests may never be media. Ell hasn’t been able to
get Knowles onto TikTok yet,
used again.
Ell and Mobley have been but she’s not giving up.
Knowles said he has been
working with another teacher
studying the concept of
to develop curriculum
“learning loss” during the
including “social-emotional
pandemic.
learning” (SEL) items. Ell
“If the goal is to have kids
said students may not be
retain an important finite
able to make-up for time
amount of information in
lost this year in terms of
their brains then I think
academic content, but they
have gotten stronger in other we’ve lost ground that we
can’t get back, but if the goal
areas — especially those
ENGAGEMENT
3
IMPACT
We are proud to say that since the incepon of
this fund, Skyline has provided nearly 60
THANK YOU
paents with mammograms and/or
SHINE ON!
diagnosc tests. These are paents who
PARTNERS
otherwise would not have access to these
CHAMPION PARTNERS:
live-saving exams. In addion, it helped to
A&E Heating & Air, Inc.
purchase a 3D mammography machine –
Cerner
giving Skyline the latest breast health
Howard S. Wright
technology available locally.
Stevenson Family Trust
WARRIOR PARTNERS:
Best Western PLUS Hood River Inn
Blue Room Architecture & Design
First Interstate Bank
FLYNN BEC, LP
USI
ADVOCATE PARTNERS:
Columbia Bank
Insitu
NorthShore Medical Group
Skyline Health Medical Clinic
PARTNERSHIPS & IN-KIND
DONATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED
For more informaon,
please contact Dawn Nielson at
dnielson@myskylinehealth.org
or 509-637-2603.
@MySkylineHealth
@skyline_health
My Skyline Health