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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (June 8, 2016)
OPINION 6A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016 GUEST COLUMN Story too sympathetic to violent felon Founded in 1873 By JOSHUA MARQUIS For The Daily Astorian STEPHEN A. FORRESTER, Editor & Publisher LAURA SELLERS, Managing Editor BETTY SMITH, Advertising Manager CARL EARL, Systems Manager JOHN D. BRUIJN, Production Manager DEBRA BLOOM, Business Manager HEATHER RAMSDELL, Circulation Manager Water under the bridge Compiled by Bob Duke From the pages of Astoria’s daily newspapers 10 years ago this week — 2006 For nearly two hours, the Astoria Fishermen and the Sherwood Bow- men were locked up in one of the most intense, dramatic Oregon high school state championship games ever played. And then it wasn’t so dramatic. And then it really wasn’t dramatic. And then Sherwood just wanted it to end. And after a while it did, mercifully and with respect. When the dust settled, the Astoria Fishermen – winners of 17 games in a row – had won their 18th straight and irst state baseball title, a 9-2 decision over the Bowmen at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer. Astoria took a big step Thursday toward a memorial to honor Chinese immigrants and their contributions to Ore- gon’s coastal economy and history. U.S. Rep David Wu announced that $75,000 has been allo- cated for the project by a U.S. House subcommittee. “Chinese immigrants were an essential part of the coastal economy, and contributed greatly to the vibrant history of Astoria and Clatsop County,” said Wu an immigrant from Taiwan. “I am honored to have this opportunity to memorial- ize their rightful place in Oregon’s history.” A front-page story in The Daily Astorian on May 30 told the account of a local man, Vincent Davidson-Gilbert, who sounded like he couldn’t catch a break. This highly sympathetic story claimed that Davidson-Gilbert had somehow gotten a 65-month prison sentence from Judge Cindee Matyas because of “misdeeds” somehow caused by his heroin addiction. Readers should know that his defense lawyer’s claim that the “crim- inal justice system has criminalized the mental health disease of addic- tion” is latly untrue. Davidson-Gil- bert didn’t receive a ive-year prison sentence for using heroin. He earned that sentence because in the course of two months earlier this year he armed himself with a gun and then burst into one home, threatened the people who lived there and then, two months later, broke into his ex-wife’s home and assaulted two people. A home-invasion burglary is one of the most dangerous crimes. The writer attempted to wring sympathy for Davidson-Gilbert by claiming, “It didn’t matter that Vincent’s irst fel- ony occurred almost a decade ago. It didn’t matter that he had volunteered for a local food bank ….” What mattered is that he had a gun and broke into two homes and terri- ied the occupants. The District Attor- ney’s Ofice does look at all factors of a defendant’s crimes, including his life and various second, third and fourth chances. A reader of this story would assume Davidson-Gilbert got him- self sent to prison for joy riding nine years ago, then held down ing people to prison. We a supervisor’s job at a have plenty of custom- local big box store. Except ers and would much rather that wasn’t his record. help those willing to show The reporter just took the responsibility for their own word of the defendant, his addictions. Our drug courts mom, and his lawyer and reward participation in only did a cursory review treatment and staying clean of the record. The reporter by erasing a felony convic- also attended the sentenc- tion. Davidson-Gilbert was ing on the two home-inva- far beyond that. His drug of Josh sion burglaries yet never choice was heroin. Marquis mentioned the tearful Prison is all that’s statement by one of the left for someone who A home- has now reached double victims. In Oregon, less than digits in felony convic- invasion tions 7 percent of prison — half of them for inmates are doing time violent crimes (DUIIs burglary aren’t considered for drugs. Davidson is vio- part of the 70 percent lent crimes). is one of who are in for violent There are partici- the most pants in Judge Philip felonies. Back in 2007, at age 18, he racked up Nelson’s drug court eight felony convictions dangerous who have inspirational and three misdemean- stories of redemption. crimes. ors. The crimes for It’s an insult to their which he went to prison accomplishments when included another home invasion bur- we continue to offer multiple chances glary and a felony assault. Although to a man like Davidson-Gilbert. the article implied he had straight- Readers deserve to know what ened out between 2008 and 2011, he he did to earn his lifetime achieve- had in fact spent most of that time in ment award for crime. This is why his prison. mom won’t get what she wants — her Despite Davidson-Gilbert’s son released after a year or two. Still, appalling record, a local company Davidson-Gilbert may only serve 47 took a chance on him and gave him months of his 65-month sentence. His a good job. By all accounts he had lawyer, Ms. Inhofe, got him a pretty a supportive family. His mother is good deal considering that if con- quoted throughout the article, blam- victed of just the two new burglar- ing drugs and a less-than-perfect ies, sentencing guidelines could have mental health system for her son’s meant a 130-month sentence. failures. As the district attorney for more Davidson repaid the fresh start than 22 years, I often see people who that was offered him by racking up a really screw up but deserve a sec- second, then a third drunken-driving ond or third chance. Vincent David- charge before arming himself (illegal son-Gilbert isn’t one of them after 10 for a violent felon) and breaking into felonies and six misdemeanors. two homes earlier this year. Joshua Marquis has served as the Those of us in law enforce- district attorney of Clatsop County ment don’t get rewarded for send- since 1994. The staff and students at Astoria High School capped a four-day roller coaster ride with a huge, emotion-packed pep assembly Tuesday after- noon at the Brick House. Following Saturday’s historic championship victory, the Astoria baseball team was oficially presented with the state trophy, while the student body — complete with pep band — honored all of its spring sports athletes who competed at the state tournament level. The reaping of rewards actually began Monday night at the Asto- ria City Council meeting, when Astoria Mayor Willis Van Dusen recog- nized the team for its 2006 championship season. The mayor proclaimed June 6, 2006 to be “Astoria High School Baseball Day,” in honor of the team’s irst state championship. 50 years ago — 1966 Clatsop college is apparently going to inish the current is- cal year “in the black” for the irst time in its career, a report inance committee chairman Henry Desler indicated Thurs- day night at the regular meeting of the college district board. Desler reported that it appeared the district would end the iscal year June 30 with per- haps $5,000 inancial surplus for the year’s operations. Clatsop County Powder Puff Derby entries, pilot Mrs. Lucy Drucker and co-pilot Mrs. Rita Ginn were guest speakers at the Tuesday Chamber of Commerce luncheon. The 20th anniversary light of the Powder Puff Derby, sponsored by the National Aeronautics Associa- tion, will begin July 2 from Boeing Field, Seattle, to end four days later in Clearwater, Fla. West End business men Mrs. Drucker, with more than 500 say they think these two light hours compiled since she began signs are a bit incongru- lying in 1935, explained that she still ous. Recently the city gov- had to recently complete 40 hours of ernment banned parking instrument light in order to become in two stalls on West Ma- eligible for the derby. Co-pilot Mrs. rine beside the Doughboy Ginn has been lying since 1958 with Monument restroom. West 100 light hours to her credit. Enders say it is hard now According to Mrs. Drucker the for people seeking the rest derby is made up of amateurs and room to find a handy place professional women liers with the to park and are going to latter having 12,000-15,000 hours of ask the city government to light time. The race is run on a hand- remove the parking ban. icap basis with the best speed com- bined with weather and wind judgment declared the winner. 75 years ago — 1941 While everybody is shouting about Seaside’s prospects for a howling summer success in resort business, on down the road a spell the good people of Cannon Beach, nestled betwixt Tillamook Head and Arch Cap, are quietly prepar- ing for their own private little nervous breakdown. Cannon Beach has been more somnolent than Seaside. More bucolic. To the vacationing public the resort settle- ment on the south of Tillamook promontory has amounted to a better symbol of nature in the raw, without the ine feathers, the white paint and chromium of city business. Somebody once said that haystack rock is the third larg- est monolith in the world. Yes or no, this great, mountainous stone and its jagged fraternity of lesser brethren washed by the blue Paciic all melds into one of the most gorgeous pan- oramic landscapes on any coast of the seven seas. Beauty has been the trump of Cannon Beach. The regional ofice of the Civil Aeronautics administration has rec- ommended to Washington that Astoria have a non-college student lier training program this summer, it was announced today by Neil R. Moritt, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce’s aviation committee. Hannah Saylor/For The Daily Astorian The Sea-Pac Ham Radio Convention was last weekend at the Seaside Civic and Convention Center. Ham radio buffs have stories to tell By TERESIA SAYLER For The Daily Astorian I used to think ham was just a tasty treat during the hol- idays … but then I became one. Let me explain. The term “ham” is the title given of amateur radio operators. The Federal Radio Act of 1912 tem- pered the mania of this new technol- ogy that had gripped thousands by requiring the licensing of the radio operators and stations. What has transpired over the decades is a culture of service, belonging and love of this hobby for well over 700,000 in the U.S. alone. Each June, thousands attend the Northwest’s largest convention of these “hams” in Seaside, known as Sea-Pac. In times of disaster, when your cellphones and land lines fail, you can rest assured that these radio geeks will be there to support and communicate wherever their signals can reach. While conventions have their share of lectures and the manda- tory swap meet of all things radio, what I found most appealing were the stories of what these hams are capable of. Twilight on the beachfront brought a zombie-like trek of one ham after another to huddle around an experiment of hoisting aloft a wire antenna afixed to a kite and attached to a radio, from which the operator would attempt contact others as far from his location as possible. With little to no wind on Friday evening, the “techie” in them came out. A quadcopter drone was revved up as a substitute for the kite. About 10 minutes later a roar of meet weekly for a Sat- applause broke out from urday morning brunch, the crowd. It was almost to chat about the latest as if contact was made upgrades to radios, acces- with someone on the sories, computers, etc., moon. and have been doing so Other endearing sto- for decades. They trade, ries come out of just lis- give advice and perhaps tening to the hams chat give a young new ham about the latest gadgets, used equipment to get interfacing radios with them started. Teresia computers, the ability to I recently witnessed Sayler track movements of this devotion save a radio equipped vehi- life of an amateur radio cles, etc. To see the operator. Over a two- It was expressions of the three year period, one younger generation almost as of the local group’s when told you can link member’s health began computers to the radios if contact to decline very seri- and cover even more was made ously. At one of the distance is priceless. regular gatherings, Hearing the one he needed immedi- with about the young man in ate medical attention. someone The comrades rallied his basement bedroom in the middle of Idaho around their longtime on the dairy country, where friend, got him to the he was able to receive healthcare he needed moon. the mayday call of a just in the nick of time. ishing vessel off the While he recovered his Paciic Coast and summoned help ham family rallied once again to for it, was remarkable. Good thing clear out his house, take care of his his parents allowed him to mount kitty and encourage his return to the that antenna on top of the feed silo “air” and social events soon. Most that was several stories tall. were afraid that 2014 was his last The stubbornness and motivation Sea-Pac event, but this year he was of hams can come out on the air as there smiling from ear to ear. well. There was the blind ham who While some may think these was chatting one day with another folks are super geeky odd ducks, I ham on the radio about borrowing am happy to be associated with one a ladder to climb a tree to install a of the most kind, generous groups better antenna … needless to say, of “amateurs” you’ll ever meet. Teresia Sayler is a long- help was sent over for his project as his wife had already grounded him time ham aficionado who lives for beginning to trim the tree with a in Clearwater, Washington. She has been active with Civil Air chainsaw. What impresses me most about Patrol for 36 years and Snohom- the culture of these hams is their ish County Search and Rescue for devotion to each other. Many will several years.
