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Vol. 109, No. 33
May 2015
75 cents
3 Sections, 30 Pages
A P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E D A L L E S C H R O N I C L E & H O O D R I V E R N E W S
HOOD RIVER, OREGON
Official Newspaper, City of Hood River and Hood River County
■
SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2015
www.hoodrivernews.com
Kidnap-rape
suspect dies
Fellow inmate at NORCOR facility
finds Michael Linden dead
By PATRICK MULVIHILL
News Staff Writer
Photo by Patrick Mulvihill
PORT CREWS from Peterson Bros. Construction pour a concrete retaining wall Thursday afternoon at the northern end of the Nichols Basin on
the Hood River waterfront, part of the Port’s Nichols Basin West Edge trail project. The Port also started pouring concrete for a sidewalk por-
tion of the trail on Monday.
Gap looms in Port project
By PATRICK MULVIHILL
News staff writer
The Port of Hood River’s dream of a
seamless pedestrian path connecting the
entire waterfront has hit a major hurdle
— a legal gap severs the Port’s and Naito
Development LLC’s respective trail
plans.
The Port discovered in mid-February
that its Nichols Basin West Edge trail
plans didn’t match those of Naito Devel-
opment, which is planning to build a
hotel on the south end of the Nichols
Boat Basin. Between the two properties
is a 7-foot height differential neither par-
ties accounted for, a slope too steep for
the envisioned paved trail which would
lead to a sidewalk on Naito’s property.
If the Port and Naito don’t reach an
agreement, their respective properties
will cut off north and south of the in-
cline, leaving the gap as a steep gravel
driveway.
Port Executive Director Michael McEl-
wee said the trail connection issue has
“come to a head,” considering Naito De-
velopment is already planning construc-
tion on its hotel area as early as next
week.
The Port is already deeply embroiled
in construction at the Nichols Basin, fur-
ther north. Over the last month, port
crews constructed seawalls at the north-
ern beach area of the project, and have
been filling them with concrete over the
last two weeks.
The trail connection complication to
the south could freeze the Port’s con-
struction plans in the upcoming months.
“It will affect construction of the road
it and will delay us in construction in the
south end,” said McElwee.
Sixty feet separate the end of the Port’s
property from Naito’s — a stone’s throw
geographically, but a chasm legally and
financially.
McElwee described the gap area as
“complex” due to its cluster of “oddly
shaped property lines.” The proposed
West Edge trail is bordered by easements
S p o t l i g h t
a
t
u
r
d
a
y
allocated to Doug Hattenhauer, owner of
the adjacent Riverfront 76 gas station,
and the Oregon Department of Trans-
portation, which protects a portion of
the riparian area. Thus, any adjustments
would require new permitting and poten-
tially expensive construction.
The Port is poised to receive roughly
$600,000 in state grant funding for the
project. However, that doesn’t account for
new costs required to connect the trail
gap, said McElwee.
At a Port Commission meeting Tues-
day, members of the Hood River Valley
Residents Committee, a local land use
watchdog group, urged the port to con-
nect the trail gap as soon as possible.
“There will never be a cheaper or easi-
er time to complete trail construction,”
said Heather Staten, executive director of
the committee.
Staten said the current plan for a grav-
el gap, and its heavy incline, would be an
ADA accessibility obstacle.
A Hood River man accused of eight separate
felonies including kidnap and rape was found dead at
Northern Oregon Region Corrections Facility in The
Dalles Wednesday morning.
Michael Scott Linden, 52, who was charged with
eight separate felonies including burglary, kidnap-
ping, rape, sodomy, sexual abuse, assault, strangula-
tion and unlawful use of weapon, was found dead at
NORCOR at about 10:58 a.m. Wednesday, April 22.
According to NORCOR director Jim Weed, offi-
cials were tipped off to Linden’s
death by an inmate. “We were noti-
fied by an inmate who came to us and
said ‘hey, we got trouble,’” said Weed.
Weed said the cause of death is
pending investigation by Wasco
County Sheriff ’s office and The
Dalles Police Department.
Linden was booked in NORCOR
Wednesday, April 15 and arraigned at Michael Scott
Linden
the Hood River County Courthouse
the next day. At a follow-up appear-
ance before Judge Karen Ostrye on Monday, April 20,
his next appearance was set for May 6.
Linden was facing more than 40 years in prison if
convicted of the most severe charges levied against
him. His bail was set at $100,000.
A reported friend of Linden’s, who requested not
to be named, said he found posts on Linden’s Face-
book page yesterday that read “R.I.P. Scott Linden”
and “peace and strength to you, old friend.”
The friend said he had mostly lost contact with
Linden over the last 20 years, but was close with him
in the 1970s and 1980s, when the two attended high
school in the Santa Barbara area of Southern Cali-
fornia.
“He’s a good person … I’m sorry that whatever
happened did,” said the friend.
Council talks train
safety on Monday
Train safety, affordable housing, and parking are
ongoing issues Hood River City Council will deal
with Monday in its regular meeting, 6 p.m. at City
Hall.
Planning director Cindy Walbridge will give an up-
See PORT, Page A11
See TRAIN, Page A11
A weekly series about a day in the life ...
Tyson Miller gains ag experience, has fun, in FFA
BY TRISHA WALKER
News staff writer
Photos by Trisha Walker
TYSON MILLER, 16, has been busy preparing for
the FFA’s 8th annual Steak Feed and Silent Auction,
held this Saturday at HRVHS. High school students
can take a variety of ag classes, from gardening to wood
shop to veterinary science.
Tyson Miller, 16, Hood River Valley High School sopho-
more, has been busy the past few weeks, helping get ready
for the school’s 8th Annual FFA Steak Feed and Silent Auc-
tion fundraiser, held today
(April 25) in the HRVHS
8th Annual FFA Steak
cafeteria and Commons be-
Feed and Silent Auction
ginning at 6 p.m.
will be held April 25 begin-
A second-year member of
FFA (or Future Farmers of
ning at 6 p.m. at the HRVHS
America), Miller said that
cafeteria and Commons,
although the Steak Feed is a
1220 Indian Creek Road,
one-night affair, it takes stu-
Hood River. Tickets are $10
dents all year to plan: they
and are available at the door.
are in charge of organizing
the event and gathering all
of the donations (and, in some cases, crafting or bringing in
items themselves), as well as setting up beforehand and
cleaning up when it’s over. During the event itself, you’ll find
members welcoming guests, serving food and drinks, and
See TYSON, Page A11
Four To Go
Shred Day is April 25
Helping Hands position opens
Tutu Trot returns May 9
Work party at Care Center
Cascade Central Credit Union, located
at 1206 12th Street, on the Heights in Hood
River, is holding their annual Community
Shred Day event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on
April 25. There is a three box limit, and
while there is no charge for the service,
donations will be accepted in support of
the CCCU scholarship fund.
Helping Hands Against Violence has
a new volunteer position open at the
shelter for the summer months and be-
yond — staff is hoping volunteers will
become long-term. Volunteers must
have the desire to work with children
of all ages and will work with Child
Development coordinator to develop
activities and take children on local
field trips. Must pass background
check and sign confidentiality agree-
ment. More info at
jayce@helpinghandsoregon.org.
Be sure to wear a tutu for Lila May’s second
annual Tutu Trot, scheduled for May 9 at the
Mark O. Hatfield Twin Tunnels Trail beginning
at 9 a.m.
Walkers and runners can participate in a 3K,
5K, 10K or stroller walk at $20 per entry. Kid
race for those 12 and under. Fun, music and
medals provided for each participant.
Lila May is a local four year old who is bat-
tling neuroblastoma. She was diagnosed in Sep-
tember 2012 and is currently being treated with
radiation at OHSU and by specialists in New
York. To donate or for more information, email
dtjennybrown@gmail.com or visit
www.lilamaytututrot.com.
The community is invited to join Hood
River Care Center residents, staff and
friends to help beautify the grounds April
25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch and re-
freshments will be provided. Donations of
flowers, plants, flower pots, dirt, fertilizer,
seeds, bulbs, bird and squirrel feeders,
tools, watering cans and outdoor furni-
ture will be accepted, as well as donations
of time.
For more information contact Chris-
tine Shannon at 541-386-2688 ext. 4621.
7
05105 97630
3