2
Wednesday,June30,2021
Columbia Gorge News
FOURTH
Events planned
throughout Gorge
Continued from page 1
com/parade. This year’s
parade is sponsored by Gorge
Reality Group due to Lions
Club International COVID
restrictions. For updates, visit
their website or facebook.
com/hoodriverfireworks.
•••
Hood River Eyeopeners
Lions Club is again spon-
soring the fireworks show,
beginning at 10 p.m. at
the Hood River Event Site.
Admission is free, but parking
is subject to parking fees by
the Port of Hood River.
This event is completely
financed through community
donations; contributions
may be made by mailing a
check to Eyeopeners Lions
Fireworks, 1767 12th St. No.
136, Hood River, OR 97031,
online at hoodriverfireworks.
com or at the retail booth lo-
cated at the Rite Aid parking
lot.
•••
There will be limited access
to several Port of Hood
River waterfront properties
beginning Saturday, July 3,
when the Lions Club will
begin setting up its fireworks
display just west of the mouth
of the Hood River. Parking
will be free on the Fourth of
July at all port-owned streets
LETTER
Oath to ‘Supreme
Judge’ referenced
Continued from page 1
however, we cannot choose
what parts of the Constitution
we are going to follow on any
given day,” the letter contin-
ued. “Our founders wrote
the first, second, and third
articles dealing with sepa-
ration of powers. In doing
so, they gave the power to
determine what is or is not
constitutional to the courts
and whether we personally
like a particular law, man-
date, governor’s declaration,
or if we personally think that
it is unconstitutional, it is the
courts that decide what is or
is not constitutional.”
There was not much
debate on the language used
in the response letter as the
board informally agreed
to have staff revise and put
forward a final version for
approval. The commissioners
were all in agreement that
they needed to address the
issue.
That the letter was pep-
pered with flattery directed
towards the official who
tacitly threatened the authors
of the letter as well as county
employees and other elected
officials with arrest was
explained by Commissioner
Dan Christopher, who wrote
the first draft of the response.
He said there were several
reasons for the language:
“1. (It) is out of respect for
the office of the sheriff; 2. It
does not do the citizens of
the county any good to start
a war … between elected
officials; 3. The way it was
written was respectful, yet
provided our stance while
trying to make sure (egos)
did not get (too) hurt so that
there was less possibility
of retaliation or escalation;
4. It showed respect to the
department and staff.”
The statement
Songer’s June 17 statement
claims that the founding
of the country was based
in Christianity, and by that
measure, “I have taken an
and Lot 1 (the vacant lot lo-
cated south of the Event Site)
The Event Site parking lot will
be open to 2021 season pass
holders and pay to park as
usual.
The following areas will be
closed or have limited access:
■ The Spit: The port will
close the Spit area at noon on
Saturday, July 3 until noon on
Monday, July 5.
■ Event Site Access to
Sandbar: Access to the
Sandbar from the Event Site
will be closed at 7 p.m. on
July 4 to all access. Kiteboard
launching and landing from
the Event Site grass and
beach is prohibited.
■ Marina Beach and
Marina Park: The sandy
area of the Marina Beach will
be closed at 7 p.m. on July
4 and closed to kiteboard-
ing launching and landing,
due to the fireworks safety
parameter. Once the Marina
Park parking areas are full,
“Closed” signs will be posted
at the entrance and addition-
al vehicles will not be allowed
into Marina Park.
Fireworks of any kind are
prohibited on all port prop-
erties, including the Marina
and Waterfront areas. This
policy is strictly enforced.
People planning on watch-
ing the fireworks from the
Marina and the Waterfront
are reminded that the show’s
conclusion usually brings
very heavy traffic congestion
and there will be significant
delays in exiting the area.
The port urges patience and
cooperation to help ease the
pressure created by the large
number of vehicles attempt-
ing to exit the area at the
same time. Dark conditions
and heavy pedestrian traffic
during this time make it all
the more important to use
caution and take your time
driving in the area. There
is no overnight parking or
camping allowed anywhere
on port property.
For more information, con-
tact the Port of Hood River at
541-386-1645 or via email to
porthr@gorge.net for more
information.
•••
The Kollas Cranmer Fourth
of July Run has been can-
celed again this year.
oath before the ‘Supreme
Judge of the Universe’ to
keep the peace and to secure,
defend and protect the
people of this jurisdiction
from threats to their liberties,
their livelihoods, and the
peaceable enjoyment of their
property.”
The statement goes on
to condemn Washington
Governor Jay Inslee’s issuing
of executive orders relating
to the COVID-19 emergency,
which closed down business-
es, churches, schools, and
denied “the people of this
state their God-given and
constitutionally protected
rights to travel, to worship,
to assemble, and to exercise
personal autonomy respect-
ing wearing face masks or
other medical devices.”
Songer called such actions
by the governor uncon-
stitutional, and vowed to
implement policies and
procedures in place barring
his office from enforcing or
assisting “in the enforcement
of any order, edict, mandate,
proclamation, directive, reg-
ulation, etc., that violates the
rights of the people,” includ-
ing certain First and Second
Amendment rights, as well
as the right to travel and “the
right to lawfully engage in
business activities without in-
terference by representatives
of any government, or agency
or agent thereof, when such
interference is based (sic).”
It further puts any govern-
mental official on notice that
he may choose to arrest and
detain them for performing
duties prescribed to them
under what he considers “un-
constitutional orders, edicts,
mandates, proclamations,
directives, regulations, etc.
“Fidelity to my oath
requires that I abstain
from enforcing any edict or
order from a governor, or
an executive, which lacks
constitutional authority,”
Songer wrote. That point
was rebutted by Prosecuting
Attorney David Quesnel,
who, during Tuesday’s
discussion, pulled from
the Washington state
Constitution and state code
to argue that the sheriff does
not have the authority to
determine the constitutional
validity of a law, and that it
forbids sheriffs from practic-
ing law.
Get your
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www.columbiagorgenews.com
and ending on Second Street
by The Dalles Chamber. To
participate, download the
parade application at thed-
alleschamber.com/wp-con-
tent/uploads/2021/06/
Parade-2021-4th-of-July.pdf.
For more information, email
Events@TheDallesChamber.
com. The annual fireworks
show begins at 10 p.m. at
Lewis & Clark Festival Park.
“We are excited to bring
back a full schedule of events
for the Fourth of July this
year,” said Matt Herriges, Fort
Dalles Fourth committee
president, in a press release.
“... All of this would not be
possible without our gener-
ous local sponsors, commu-
nity partners, and support of
our Veteran Banner fundrais-
er A special thank you to all
of those that have supported
Fort Dalles Fourth the last
The Dalles
eight years.”
More information and
The day’s events begin at 7
a.m. with the FD4 3K, 5K and updates can be found at
10K Rocket Run by the Dufur www.facebook.com/fortd-
Track Team — registration
allesfourth or www.firework-
opens at 6:30 a.m. — followed sinthedalles.com, or call the
by a community breakfast
chamber at 541-296-2231.
sponsored by McDonald’s at
8 a.m., additionally spon-
sored by Cochenour Builders. Bingen/White Salmon
Yoga sponsored by Pure Yoga
The Mt. Adams Chamber
begins at 9 a.m. All three
of Commerce is hosting the
events happen at Bargeway
Fourth of July Parade through
Pub.
downtown, followed by a free
A Fourth of July parade be- concert in Rheingarten Park,
gins at 10 a.m., with a viewing located at the intersection of
Washington and Main Streets
celebration at Sorosis Park
beginning at 9 a.m. — begin- from 1-4 p.m. The parade be-
ning at 6th and Webber Street gins on Grandview to Jewett
‘What you say
has meaning’
from members of the public,
and “while I feel my staff
have been admirable in their
ability to brush off these
threats, threats of this nature
coming from the sheriff
himself are creating an
environment where staff fear
for their livelihood as public
health employees.”
The prosecutor himself
informed the board that
his family has taken mea-
sures to install additional
security provisions, and “I
now have an attorney on
retainer in case I’m arrested
and detained by the sheriff,”
Quesnel said. “I don’t take
well to threats.”
Christopher, who prepared
a first draft of the response
letter, wrote in an email that
he fears that he’ll be spend-
ing a night in county jail
“just for writing my public
statement. But I am willing to
do just that. When some-
one fears using their first
amendment rights, that’s a
real travesty.”
White Salmon Mayor
Marla Keethler told Columbia
Gorge News that she was
aware of Songer’s statement,
but that the impacts did not
extend out to city business,
and that enforcement of state
mandates were still in place
at the municipal level.
The statement also
spurred a response from
Klickitat School District
Superintendent Brian
Freeman, who wrote to
the sheriff, asking to either
arrest and detain him, or
to rescind his public state-
ment. Freeman noted the
school district will continue
wearing masks and abiding
by state mandates through
the summer, a point which
Songer called out as poten-
tially illegal.
Discussing the letter,
Commissioner Jacob
Anderson said, “I want the
sheriff to recognize that what
you say has meaning and it
impacts the people that you
work with on a daily basis.”
While the sheriff often
releases statements in plati-
tudes, some county officials
are worried that a literal
interpretation of his letter
could mean consequences
for those who operate under
orders handed down by the
state, should the sheriff or his
deputies choose to execute
the policies laid out in the
statement.
“Under the literal inter-
pretation of his letter, I could
be arrested and detained
for prosecuting a felon or
domestic abuser for having
a firearm, because that in-
terferes with his right to bear
arms … I could be arrested
and detained for prosecuting
someone for driving on a
suspended a license or under
the influence of alcohol
because that interferes with
their right to travel,” Quesnel
said during Tuesday’s
discussion.
The sheriff’s statements
also impacted county oper-
ations of the health depart-
ment, who for the past 15
months has been working to
alleviate the county of public
health issues relating to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Health Director Erinn
Quinn informed the board,
the prosecutor, and the coun-
ty human resources depart-
ment of impacts of the sher-
iff’s language in an email, the
day after he published his
statement. Upon reading the
statement multiple times, she
said, “I developed a genuine
concern for both my own
personal safety and security
as well as that of my staff
and brought this Facebook
post to the attention of my
department.
“Because I take the safety
of my staff very seriously, I
have already made decisions
which will alter our normal
business duties due to my
inability to assure my staff of
Constitutional Sheriff
their safety within the com-
munity,” Quinn wrote.
This was not the first time
Quinn continued, saying
Songer has been lectured by
that for the past 15 months,
the board on constitutional
her office has had to deal
processes.
with threats and harassment
The self-proclaimed
Concealed Carry
Permit Class
July 6th
to Main Street, where it will
end at the park. The concert
begins at 2 p.m. There will be
prizes awarded for the most
patriotic entries. Everyone is
welcome.
“It’s time to shine up your
wheels, dust off your walking
shoes, dress up your dog
or decorate your bike,” said
a chamber press release.
“Join us for this small-town
celebration of the Fourth of
July. Beginning with a parade
led by Grand Marshall Carol
DeLay starting at 1 p.m., this
perfect afternoon festival
creates an ideal mid-summer
day’s trip to the north shore
of the Columbia River Gorge.”
The parade will feature the
204th Army Marching Band
from Vancouver. Local group
Harmony of the Gorge will
be singing in the parade and
also at the park, where there
will be VIP tented seating for
military veterans and their
guest. Veterans are addi-
tionally invited to ride in the
parade. If you need a vehicle/
driver, the chamber will coor-
dinate and drop you off at the
park; call by July 1.
For more information, con-
tact Mt. Adams Chamber of
Commerce at 509-493-3630,
or visit the webpage mtad-
amschamber.com.
•••
The Port of Klickitat invites
local Washington commu-
nities to safely discharge
fireworks from 8-11 p.m.
at Bingen Point. The City
of Bingen Municipal Code
8.16.020 prohibits fireworks
within city limits. It is possi-
ble to legally purchase certain
fireworks on federal or tribal
lands which are in violation
of Washington law (RCW
70.77) and will be confiscated
at the event.
For the enjoyment and
safety of all:
■ Minors must be accom-
panied by and adult
■ Use of fireworks is strictly
limited to the hours of 8-11
p.m. on July 4 in the designat-
ed area
■ No pets, alcohol, drugs,
or weapons. Illegal fireworks
are prohibited and will be
confiscated.
The port could not host this
event without the assistance
and cooperation of the cities
of Bingen and White Salmon,
the Klickitat County Sheriff’s
Office, Fire District 13, and
several other volunteers, said
a press release.
For links to more in-
formation on the event,
legal and illegal fireworks in
Washington, and state law re-
garding the use of fireworks,
visit the port’s web site at
www.portofklickitat.com.
Husum
The annual Husum July 4
parade and fun run has been
canceled due to the heat
wave.
Klickitat County Sheriff Bob Songer speaks at an event in July,
2020.
Columbia Gorge News photo/file
Constitutional Sheriff had
lobbied for approval of a
county resolution earlier
this year that would have, in
effect, made Klickitat County
a sanctuary county for gun
rights. The resolution would
have barred county law
enforcement from enforcing
various gun regulations.
Similar comments were
directed towards the sheriff
during testimony before the
board at their May 4 meet-
ing when discussing the
proposed resolution. Then,
commissioners told Songer
that the proposal usurps the
state’s authority, and that
the proper way to invalidate
a state mandate is to try it in
court.
Songer has made head-
lines in the past for calling
Governor Inslee an ‘idiot’
and publicly stating he would
not enforce state gun regula-
tions or any of the COVID-19
mandates.
“Most everyone knows
that our sheriff loves a mic
and an audience. I’m fine
with that,” Christopher said.
“I also understand that the
sheriff has the authority to
not enforce any order, proc-
lamation, or mandate that
he sees fit. Again, I am fine
with that. Where the sheriff
doesn’t have the authority
is to legally deem any order,
proclamation or mandate
‘unconstitutional’ and threat-
en to make an arrest using
his personal opinion of that
constitutionality. If we allow
any elected official and not
the courts to judge law, and
then threaten to act on that
we allow tyranny.”
Asked if the letter goes
far enough, Commissioners
Anderson and Christopher
both told Columbia Gorge
News that their job does not
authorize them to control the
sheriff’s actions and views.
Commissioner Sauter could
not be reached for comment
as he was out of town last
week.
That said, “If he creates
legal liability for the county,
it is up to us commissioners
to find the funds necessary
to protect the country’s inter-
ests,” Anderson wrote in an
email conversation.
Additionally, Songer is cur-
rently being sued in Benton
County Superior Court for
using his 140-member posse
to hunt cougars with hounds.
Anderson and Christopher
both mentioned they have
no knowledge of any county
official being placed under
arrest relating to his latest
statement.
Anderson noted that the
sheriff has used his platform
to announce he will not be
enforcing COVID-19 man-
dates, but “the statements
in his letter seem to indicate
he is considering taking a
more active roll with regards
to his ability to arrest our
residents, elected officials,
and hard working members
of the county and/or state
departments.”
Sheriff Songer declined to
comment on the commis-
sioner’s statement.
Editor’s Note — Klickitat
County Sheriff Bob Songer’s
letter can be found in full on
the Columbia Gorge News
website, gorgenews.com.
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