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About Columbia Gorge news. (The Dalles, OR) 2020-current | View Entire Issue (July 21, 2021)
INDEX Adopt A Pet Classifieds History KidScoop Obituaries Opinion PoliceLogs PublicNotices SeniorLiving Sports What’sHappening Former DA files lawsuit against county — A8 A16 B8-9 B5 B1 A7 A4 B4 B7 B3 A10-13 B4 Armed subject shoots out lamps — A6 Former police officer to sue city — A9 Weather Mid-80stolow-90sthrough theweekintheGorge.Sunnyand pleasantweather. Maupin to receive new state-of-the- art athletic track— A12 Columbia Gorge News HOOD RIVER | THE DALLES | WHITE SALMON Wednesday,July21,2021 Volume2,Issue16 $1.00 Granddaughter of Hood River residents named to U.S. Olympic Swim Team Bella Sims qualifies for Team USA Swimming former school district administra- tor, James retired in 2005. He now spends most of his days hunting and watching golf. By Noah Noteboom Columbia Gorge News Bella holds numerous club and Southern California Swimming (SCS) records in both short and Watching from their home in long distance races. She currently Odell, James and Dodie Sims saw holds the SCS records for the 500 their 16-year-old granddaughter, meter and 200 meter freestyle for Arabella Sims — who also goes by girls aged 15-16, which is impres- Bella — qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as a member of Team sive considering she started swim- U.S.A. Swimming. ming six years ago. Training and competing at During the preliminary races the Sandpiper Swim Club in Bella placed second in the 800 Henderson, Nev., Bella qualified meter freestyle, right behind to race in 11 different events at the arguably the best female swimmer U.S. Olympic Trials. of all-time, Katie Ledecky. In the “I like to think of her as an all- final heat of the 200 meter freestyle around swimmer,” said her grand- race that would determine spots on the U.S.A. roster, Sims set a new father, James. “She does the races personal-record, placing fifth. She most people don’t want to swim.” missed qualification for the solo Dodie and James live in Odell outside of the winter months, then event by less than half of a second. migrate to Henderson, Nev., to see Fortunately, her time of 1:57.53 was family and enjoy the warm weather. fast enough to claim a spot on the Dodie has lived in the upper valley 4x200 meter relay team. That race, which will send her to most of her life. She graduated from the Olympics, placed Bella as the Hood River Valley High School third best of all-time in the 200 me- in 1976 and worked in the area until her retirement in 2017. Also a ter freestyle behind Missy Franklin ■ Eyes to the Fallen Bella Sims looks up at the scoreboard to check times after a Team U.S.A. qual- ifying race. An all-around swimmer, Sims qualified for 11 events at the Team U.S.A. Olympic Trials. Contributed Photo from Dodie Sims and Ledecky. Now, she will share a locker room and compete with some of the best swimmers from around the world. The women’s 4x200 meter freestyle relay races are scheduled to begin on July 28 and the finals will take place the following day, July 29. Two men indicted following pursuit Suspects held on kidnapping, forgery following fraud check scam in The Dalles Jacob Bertram ■ By Columbia Gorge News Agents from Skamania County Sheriff’s Office arrested two men in connection with a kidnapping and forgery case that arose out of The Dalles last week. Following a grand jury inves- tigation, Wasco County District Attorney Matthew Ellis said the suspects, 20-year-old Jalyn Brown and 21-year-old Sincere Nasir Demarja Mullins, were indicted on multiple charges, including first-degree forgery, second-de- gree kidnapping, identity theft, and attempted theft, while one received additional charges on at- tempt to elude police and reckless driving. The suspects are being held at Northern Oregon Regional Hood River filmmakers tell story of Anthony Marquez and his effort to remember fallen comrades Noah Noteboom ■ By Columbia Gorge News Hood River filmmakers Manny Marquez and Jesse Larvick are on a mission. Armed with lights and cameras, the duo is setting out on a five week tour of America, to tell the stories of 17 families who have lost loved ones in the line of active duty. July 12, 2011, is a day that Anthony Marquez, Manny’s young- er brother, will never forget. In the desert of Sangin, Afghanistan, one of Anthony’s best friends in the 1st Battalion 5th infantry unit, Robert Greniger, was killed in action. Anthony watched as the helicopter transporting Greniger flew over the horizon. The next time he would re- unite with his brother in arms, was in Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minnesota. By the time Anthony’s tour had come to an end, more than 190 Marines were wounded and anoth- er 17 — including Greniger — had lost their lives. Battlefield crosses are common among the military to pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives while serving their country. Using the Marine’s boots, helmet and rifle a memorial is constructed by hanging the helmet on the rifle that is configured between his boots forming a makeshift cross. Anthony decided in order to honor his fallen comrades he will carve a battlefield cross out of wood for each of the 17 members lost during his tour in Afghanistan. Of course, there was the challenge of learning how to carve with a chainsaw. Learning the craft from renowned Oklahoma artist, Clayton Coss, Anthony quick- ly mastered the art of chainsaw carving. He completed all 17 statues and delivered them to each of the An officer sets a spike strip in hopes of disabling a vehicle fleeing westbound on Interstate 84 in Hood River. The ve- hicle instead fled into Washington. Jody Thompson photo See PURSUIT,page5 Suspect charged in July 4 Fire Manny Marquez, above, sits behind his desk pondering the next move in filming his second feature length film: “XVII Carvings.” His first feature film was called “Psychopath” that featured a man who setup a haunted house theme park in Oklahoma. At right, Jesse Larvick will be co-directing his first feature film. Larvick will also be utilizing his talents as a professional photographer to create a book. Noah Noteboom photos families who had lost their son. Since 2016, Anthony has created — from scratch — nearly 70 bat- tlefield cross carvings. Most honor fallen Marines and oftentimes his carvings will generate thousands of dollars. His works have been sold for $25,000, with proceeds going to veteran charities and organizations. Larvick and Manny, Anthony’s brother, are going to be joining Anthony for a road trip around the country visiting the families while producing a full length documenta- ry titled “XVII Carvings.” As a co-di- rector and cinematographer, Manny has produced other films such as “Operation Allie” which depicts See FILM,page5 Jacob Bertram ■ By Columbia Gorge News LYLE — An 18-year-old man received a criminal citation for using illegal fireworks near the Lyle sandbar, which investigators are pointing to as the cause of the fire that sparked on the west side of town on Independence Day. Multiple witnesses saw the fireworks discharge and caught the act on video, Klickitat County Undersheriff Tim Neher said, which helped sheriff’s See FIRE,page5 Contact Us at 541-386-1234 541-296-2141 delivery: Subscribe@gorgenews.com news tips: News@gorgenews.com place an ad: Sales@gorgenews.com Stay connected Facebook.com/columbiagorgenews Twitter.com/gorge_news
