The Hook
What’s Going On?
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W EEKEND E DITION
Vol. 109, No. 15
Official Newspaper, City of Hood River and Hood River County
HOOD RIVER, OREGON
■
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015
75 cents
2 Sections, 16 Pages
www.hoodrivernews.com
Oil train issue is
heating up again
Report shows increased oil
going through the Gorge
By BEN MITCHELL
News staff writer
The focus on oil trains running through
the Gorge has largely remained on the
Washington side, where the vast majority
of crude, particularly coming from the
Bakken formation in North Dakota, enters
the National Scenic area.
However, last week Oregon Public
Broadcasting reported that Union Pacific
is now running through Northwest states
seven to 10 mile-long “unit trains” filled
solely with tar sands oil from the Canadian
province of Alberta. Some of those are
going through the Columbia River Gorge,
although the report did not state how
many.
The shipments began in November, but
spill planners at both Oregon and Wash-
ington’s state environmental bureaus ap-
parently became aware of the increase in
shipments only within the past month.
While Bakken crude has been highlighted
due to its propensity to explode during de-
See TRAIN, Page A8
NEW BUSINESS PROFILE
On the Heights, Tropicali Fruit
satisfies ‘cravings’ for Mexico
BY TRISHA WALKER
TROPICALI Fruit
owner Sylvia
Delgadillo puts the
finishing touch on
a freshly made
Fruta Picada.
News staff writer
Alfonso and Sylvia Delgadillo have en-
joyed a steady stream of loyal customers
since opening Tropicali Fruit, their
Heights-area business serving Mexican-in-
spired fresh fruit cups, smoothies, juices
and sorbets.
Though new to the Heights, the business
is much older than its location. Sylvia
said the couple initially opened in 2011
at Juanita’s Fine Foods — and moved
to Odell Meat Market in 2012 before
coming to the Heights — because “I
used to have to drive to Portland
for this.”
“This” is over 25 “antojitos,”
or “cravings,” featuring fresh
fruit in a variety of configura-
tions, with names like fresas
con crema, manzana de chamoy
and fruta rallada. Every part of
Mexico has different antojitos, and
Tropicali Fruit strives to feature them
all. The menu is frequently updated.
While not common throughout the
United States, such shops are staples in
both Mexico and California.
“We hope people will come to check us
out,” Sylvia said. “Windsurfers know a lot
S p o t l i g h t
Photo by Trisha
Walker
See BUSINESS, Page A8
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Photo by Ben Mitchell
DEPUTY TRAVIS PAULSEN poses with K9 Luke, a Chow mix who has been serving as a narcotic de-
tection dog for the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office. Paulsen says Luke has been a great addition to
the force since he first hit the streets last October.
From Shelter to Sheriff
Drug dog Luke patrols
with Deputy Travis Paulsen
By BEN MITCHELL
News staff writer
One of the newest additions to the Hood
River County Sheriff ’s Office has already
been making a name for himself around the
department, helping deputies make drug
bust after drug bust — and looking pretty
adorable in the process.
His name is Luke, a Chow mix who’s about
7 years old and who has been serving with
his handler, Deputy Travis Paulsen, as
HRCSO’s K9 unit for the past several months.
The team is an experiment of sorts for the
department, which has never had a K9 unit
of any kind in its history, according to
Paulsen. So far, Paulsen says Luke has made
a big contribution in drug searches, result-
ing in 17 seizures or drug finds in the 24
times he’s been deployed since October.
“It’s good to see him having an affect
here,” he says.
Luke came from humble beginnings as a
See DOG, Page A8
A weekly series about a day in the life ...
Melodi Johnson makes difference as nurse, legislator’s wife
BY TRISHA WALKER
News staff writer
Submitted photos
MELODI JOHNSON has worked as a nurse at
MCMC since 1981, and in the oncology
department since 1997, where she primarily works
with breast cancer patients. The mother of three is
pictured her with youngest daughter Natalie.
Melodi Johnson is recognizable as the wife of Rep. Mark
Johnson, R-Hood River. After all, her face adorned his cam-
paign fliers during the last election cycle, too (definitely not
her idea), and she is often seen at a variety of events, either
alone or with her husband.
“You elect the official, you elect the spouse,” she ex-
plained.
Of course, having lived in Hood River since 1981, and rais-
ing the couple’s three children here — Nels, now 32, Nolan,
29, and Natalie, 21 — she’s recognizable in her own right.
Johnson’s days are a mix of her role as legislative wife and
her job as the Breast Health Navigator/Coordinator and
clinical trials nurse at Mid-Columbia Medical Center
(MCMC) in The Dalles. She’s worked for MCMC in some ca-
pacity since 1981, and in the Celilo Cancer Center’s oncology
unit since 1997.
While “oncology is a bit of a roller coaster sometimes,”
Johnson chose the field because “I liked people and I liked
caring for people, and I like science.”
See MELODI, Page A8
Three To Go
Feb. 26 Gorge Kids’ Soup presenters announced
Zumba event helps Lila May Schow on Saturday
Here are the presenters for Gorge Soup for Kids, Feb. 26 at Spring-
house Winery:
■ Andrew’s Ice Cream, Andrew McCreery - building an ice cream cart
to sell ice cream in the Gorge
■ Anson Pulk, Anson’s Bike Buddies - Collecting used bikes, repairing
them, and then donating the fixed up bikes to families and children in
need
■ Eva Jones, Kids Kamp - Kids summertime camp for ages 3-9
■ Maya Rayle, Kai’s Cones - Making ice cream to supply their family
and friends’ ice cream cart
■ Abe Brunka, Protest Inc. - creating innovative outerware for the
snow and skate community
The event starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are
available at: www.brownpaper
tickets.com/event/888297.
Friends and family continue to work, and play, on behalf of
Lila May Schow, a Hood River four-year-old who is fighting cancer.
“Help the Dancer Fight the Cancer,” a Tutus and Tiaras Zum-
bathon event for Lila May, happens Saturday at Horizon Christian
School, on Pacific Avenue in Hood River, from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Enjoy face painting, a bounce house, and silent auction, by
making a donation at the door. Costumes are encouraged – keep
in mind that Lila May’s outfit of choice is a colorful tutu.
Proceeds help Lila May’s family deal with mounting medical
and travel costs for Lila’s frequent visits to Portland and some-
times New York for specialized treatment.
Lila May was diagnosed with stage IV Neuroblastoma when she
was seventeen months old.
Family friend Alicia Beckman said that in the past week, about
500 people responded with messages of hope for Lila May.
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05105 97630
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DEQ pesticide
presentation Feb. 24
On Feb. 24 the Hood River
Watershed Group will host a
presentation by the Depart-
ment of Environmental Quality
on results from 15 years of in-
stream pesticide monitoring
done through the Hood River
Pesticide Stewardship Partner-
ship.
The event will be at 6 p.m. at
the OSU Extension meeting
room (2990 Experiment Station
Rd., Hood River).