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January 2015
Covering Gorge Business
Volume 7, No. 1
INSIDE
Honoring MLK B10
M IDWEEK E DITION
Optimist Printers:
Signs for the times
Vol. 108, No. 4
Page 4
Official Newspaper, City of Hood River and Hood River County
HOOD RIVER, OREGON
■
75 cents
3 Sections, 34 Pages
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014
www.hoodrivernews.com
Walmart heads back to LUBA
Retailer files notice of intent to appeal with state agency over store expansion
pansion to its current 72,000-
square-foot store on Wasco
Avenue.
The filing marks the third
time in as many years the
issue has been sent to LUBA.
In February 2012, an ad hoc
citizens group, Hood River
Citizens for a Local Econo-
my, appealed the council’s
original decision in Decem-
ber 2011 to approve the ex-
pansion. LUBA subsequently
remanded the decision to the
council on the basis of proce-
dural errors that the board
said were made.
In December 2012, the
council reversed its stance
By BEN MITCHELL
News staff writer
Just over a month after it
was made, a decision ren-
dered by the Hood River City
Council on whether Walmart
should be allowed to expand
its Hood River store has been
appealed at the state level.
On Friday, Greg Hathaway,
attorney for Walmart Stores,
Inc., filed with the Oregon
Land Use Board of Appeals
(LUBA) a notice of intent to
appeal the city’s decision
made early last month to
deny Walmart the ability to
add a 30,000-square-foot ex-
and ruled that Walmart’s
vested right to expand the
store had expired and thus
denied the expansion. Wal-
mart then appealed the new
decision to LUBA, which in
turn remanded the decision
again to the city, ruling that
councilors had made addi-
tional procedural errors
when they considered Wal-
mart’s application. In De-
cember 2014, a public hear-
ing was held to address the
most recent remand and
councilors voted once again
to deny the expansion.
The notice of intent to ap-
peal is the first step in the
LUBA appeal process and
does not include any infor-
mation as to why Walmart is
appealing the council’s deci-
sion. Hathaway was contact-
ed with a request to explain
the decision for the appeal
but did not respond as of
press time. Records show it
cost Walmart $400 to file the
notice of intent to appeal.
The last time Walmart ap-
pealed the decision, the re-
tailer challenged the process
by which Councilor Kate
McBride had been allowed to
participate in the Dec. 2012
See WALMART, Page A12
Photo by Kirby Neumann-Rea
DUCK-DECKED
The Oregon Ducks lost the National Championship game
Monday, but there was no lack of fans donned in green-
and-gold at viewing locations around downtown. Sue
Dominguez of Hood River rocks the UO colors as she
watches with her family at Pietro’s Pizza. For a gallery of
photos on the disappointing, but festive, season finale
game, see page A10.
Walden holds Town
Hall meeting Saturday
Photo by Adam Lapierre
M EANINGFUL M OMENT
Hood River Valley High School teacher and head wrestling coach Trent Kroll exchanges a handshake and a bow with Yoichi Okada, head
coach of Japan’s U18 national wrestling team Monday afternoon at HRVHS. A group of 16 visiting Japanese wrestlers were in Hood River
as part of a cultural exchange trip that brought them to Montana, Washington and Oregon, where they toured the area, stayed with host
families and participated in friendly wrestling matches like the one HRVHS hosted Monday. In front of a packed audience, members of
the Eagles’ wrestling team (and two from The Dalles) did their best against their Japanese counterparts. As anticipated, all 12 matches
were won by the visiting national team wrestlers.
U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-
Hood River) holds his first
town hall meetings in 2015
beginning on Saturday, with
events scheduled in seven
counties: Hood River, Wasco,
Umatilla, Wallowa, Union,
Baker, and Malheur.
The Hood River and Wasco
County meetings will be Sat-
urday, 8 to 9 a.m. at Hood
River Valley Adult Center,
2010 Sterling Drive, and 10:30
to 11 at Fort Dalles Readiness
Center, 402 East Scenic Drive,
The Dalles.
“These town hall meetings
are another way I keep in
close touch with the con-
cerns of Oregonians, along
with regular telephone town
halls, via Facebook, Twitter,
See WALDEN, Page A12
Photo by Kirby Neumann-Rea
GREG WALDEN gestures dur-
ing his previous town hall, in
November 2014.
HRCSO named SAR program of the year
and Rescue Advisory Coun-
cil as the Search and Rescue
Program of the year, and two
of its members received Life-
saving awards for a May 2014
river rescue.
Great community partner-
ships and volunteer pro-
grams like the Hood River
Crag Rats, have been the key
to success and are absolutely
critical to fulfill the volume
of missions performed by
Hood River County, accord-
ing to Hood River County
Sheriff Matt English.
Hood River County’s
Search and Rescue needs
have grown exponentially in
recent years and show no
signs of decreasing. In re-
cent years, there has been a
OSSA also honors
Sgt. Casteneda,
Dep. Harvey, with
Lifesaving Awards
Hood River County Sher-
iff ’s Office received individ-
ual as well as collective hon-
ors from the Oregon State
Sheriff ’s Association.
OSSA held its annual ban-
quet in Bend last month and
gave out awards that are
competitive and open for
statewide nomination.
The Hood River County
Sheriff ’s Office was recog-
nized by the OSSA Search
significant uptick in trail
rescue needs within the Co-
lumbia River Gorge National
Scenic Area. In 2013, the
Sheriff ’s Office fielded 93
search and rescue calls for
service. In 2014, that number
exceeded 100. Counties with
similar search and rescue
volumes often have four or
five times the staffing that
Hood River County has.
“I’m extremely proud of
our organization and the
work that our personnel per-
forms every day. Although
our staff doesn’t seek or ex-
pect recognition, it’s very
nice to be acknowledged and
all of the accolades are truly
well deserved,” English said.
Sgt. Ricardo Castaneda
Three To Go
LOOK INSIDE
A2 — Greater Gorge
A3 — Entertainment
A4-5 — Viewpoint
A6 — Obituaries
A9 — Classtime
B1 — Kaleidoscope
B2 — Peggy Dills Kelter,
How to Help
B6 — Happenings
B7 — Classifieds, Legals
7
05105 97630
and Deputy John Harvey
were honored with Lifesav-
ing awards for their actions
on May 16, 2014 when they
saved the life of a kiteboard-
er on the Columbia River.
The kiteboarder had become
entangled in a navigational
buoy and was being pulled
under water.
Harvey and Castaneda
were able to reach the kite-
boarder in the Sheriff ’s Of-
fice boat, cut her free from
her kite lines and bring her
on board safely. Following
the rescue, the kiteboarder
made statements that she
Photo by Richard Hallman
was at the point of giving up
HOOD
RIVER
County
Search
and
Rescue
efforts
bring together
and would not have survived
paid
deputies
and
community
volunteers,
and
are
enhanced
by spe-
if Castaneda and Harvey
cialized equipment for all seasons, including this sno-cat.
hadn’t rescued her.
3
Red Cross Bloodmobile visits Jan. 28
Hood River Chamber sets two dates
The next American Red Cross bloodmobile visit
to Hood River will be Jan 28, 12:30 to 6 p.m., at Ore-
gon National Guard Armory, 12th and Belmont
streets.
January is a challenging time for blood dona-
tions. Inclement weather can result in blood drive
cancellations, and cold and flu season may cause
some donors to be unable to make or keep blood
donation appointments, according to Red Cross
spokesman Jared Schultzman.
To learn more, or to schedule a donation, down-
load the American Red Cross Blood Donor App,
visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-
800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more
information.
Hood River Chamber of Commerce hosts
the monthly Coffee Clatter, Friday from 8 to 9
a.m. at the Chamber offices, on Marina Way,
next to exit 64.
This is a networking opportunity that is
open to the public. Coffee and refreshments
will be served, and businesses and organiza-
tions can take turns making announcements
or giving updates.
Meanwhile, the Chamber has announced
the annual installation and awards dinner for
Jan. 23 at Columbia Gorge Hotel. This year’s
theme is Prom Night.
For details, go to hoodriver.org
WS Library hosts
Scrabble Tournament
White Salmon Valley Community Li-
brary hosts a Scrabble Tournament
Saturday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the li-
brary, 77 N.E. Wauna Ave. All ages are
invited to this “fun and lightly compet-
itive” event.
Cost is a $5 suggested donation per
player; registration is recommended
by calling the library at 1-509-493-1132.
Teams of two will compete; single
players can be paired up. Prizes will be
awarded and refreshments provided.
Proceeds support teen summer read-
ing programs.