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About The Hood River news. (Hood River, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (May 9, 2015)
School Board Title Won Boys tennis claims first crown – Meet the Pos. 1 candidates – A11 W EEKEND E DITION Vol. 109, No. 37 75 cents 2 Sections, 22 Pages A7 Official Newspaper, City of Hood River and Hood River County HOOD RIVER, OREGON ■ SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2015 www.hoodrivernews.com Self-serve in the Gorge? Bill allowing self- service gas in rural Oregon passes House By PATRICK MULVIHILL News staff writer Drivers in rural stretches of Ore- gon—including Hood River Coun- ty—could be pumping their own gas if a new bill makes it through Salem. The Oregon House unanimously passed a bill last Friday that would allow gas stations in counties with fewer than 40,000 residents to keep self-service pumps turned on when no owner, operator or attendant is present to dispense gasoline. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario), and co-spon- sored by Senator Ted Ferrioli (R- John Day) breezed through the House with a bi-partisan 60-0 vote. The next step is a Senate decision. Oregon is one of two states that have historically banned self-ser- vice gas, along with New Jersey. The new legislation would strike down Oregon’s 64-year-old law bar- ring Oregonians from pumping their own fuel, but only in rural areas. The original 1951 statute in- tended to defend the public from handling “Class 1 flammable fuels,” and also to protect the elder- ly and disabled from getting out of their car to pump gas “because Ore- gon’s weather is uniquely adverse, causing wet pavement and reduced visibility.” The new bill attempts to ease traveling through isolated stretch- es of Oregon, particularly in south- eastern Oregon, where drivers can become stranded if no gas stations are open. Bentz argued parts of Oregon are so remote that people See PUMPS, Page A10 Photo by Patrick Mulvihill ESME VELA, assistant manager at Nobi’s Gas Station, pumps gas Wednesday af- ternoon at the Tucker Road station. ‘Remembering the Year 1980’ Union Pacific president visits Railroad chief meets with local leaders By RAELYNN RICARTE The Dalles Chronicle Photo by Darryl Lloyd LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER Darryl Lloyd captured the eruption of Mount St. Helens during its second big eruption on May 25, 1980, from the south side of Mt. Adams at 7,800 feet. “The eruption started early in the morning and lasted until mid- day,” Lloyd said. Lloyd presents slide show of St. Helens BY TRISHA WALKER brating the 35th anniversary of the mountain’s eruption. The presentation is one of sever- al located within the Por t- land/Vancouver area. Lloyd will serve as host for the evening, showing about 50 slides that he took of Mount St. Helens over the course of several years. “I’ve always had a very intense S p o t l i g h t News staff writer Local photo g rapher Dar ryl Lloyd will present “Remembering the Year 1980” at Skamania Lodge in Stevenson on May 13, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The presentation is part of the Mount St. Helens Institute’s Volcanic Views and Brews Scenic Pub Lecture Series, which is cele- a t u r d a y interest in Mount St. Helens, since I first climbed it at 11 years old,” Lloyd said. He went on to climb the mountain several times in the 1970s. The presentation begins with his time on the mountain as a child, then continues to some of his climbing expeditions before con- centrating on photos he took in The top executive for Union Pa- cific Railroad and his communica- tion team met Tuesday with city, county and port officials in the gorge to discuss safety concerns related to crude oil shipments. During an interview May 5 at The Dalles Chronicle office, Lance Fritz, UP president and chief ex- ecutive officer, noted that rail- roads are prohibited by federal law from turning down coal and oil shipments. “If our customer delivers a com- modity to us that conforms to U.S. Department of Transportation re- quirements, we must ship it,” he said. Transport of both products has drawn fire from environmental groups concerned about pollution from coal dust and explosive fires caused by a derailed oil train. On a larger agenda, the Sierra Club and other organizations have vowed to stop production and use of both fuel sources out of the belief they contribute to global warming. “We are somewhat caught in the middle between a group of highly motivated individuals who don’t want these products to move and our obligation,” said Fritz. At the end of the day, he thinks it is highly unlikely that coal and crude shipments by rail will be shut down altogether by political will. Espe- cially when t r u c k transports of oil have not only the highest rate of ac- cidents but the highest fatality rate, ac- Lance Fritz cording to a Manhattan Institute report. Seventy percent of crude oil and petroleum prod- ucts are shipped by pipeline in the U.S., with 23 percent by barge or ship, three percent via rail and four percent in trucks. “Every generation of leader- ship has new challenges so we just A weekly series about a day in the life ... See LLOYD, Page A10 See TRAINS Page A10 Nellie Hjaltalin shares Meals on Wheels experience BY TRISHA WALKER News staff writer Photos by Trisha Walker NELLIE HJALTALIN, 25-year driver for the Hood River Valley Adult Center’s Meals on Wheels pro- gram, has recently retired, and hopes that new volun- teers step up to take her place. On Thursday, driver Lynn Rasmussen and cook Kimberly Estey go over a route. Nellie Hjaltalin, 88, has found it hard to retire as a driver with the Hood River Valley Adult Center (HRVAC) Meals on Wheels program, where she’s volunteered for the past 25 years. But she’s had to, due to health reasons, and now she’s hop- ing that someone else — or many someones — step up to take her place. Though it’s not a big time commitment, finding volunteers is often difficult. “The younger generation doesn’t think of it,” Hjaltalin said. “They’re thinking of their grandkids who maybe have a soccer game, or ‘I want to go shopping.’ It’s a case of being volunteer oriented, and I don’t think many people are nowa- days. “To me, the most important thing to stress is that a lot of people say, ‘I can’t take the time.’ It’s really only two to three hours, but it’s what you make it. Two or three hours out of your day is minor (in light of) what you are doing.” Hjaltalin started as a driver after retiring from the sales audit department at Meier & Frank in 1989, when she moved See NELLIE, Page A5 Four To Go CGCC board meets in HR Tuesday Parks & Rec hosting Indian Creek meeting Columbia Gorge Community College Upper Valley Lions back in Parkdale board of directors meets at 6 p.m. May 12 at the Indian Creek campus, in room 1.310. Agenda items include a welcome and in- troductions by Joah Schoppert, Director of Library Services, finance and operations updates, a Foundation report, and chair- man’s report by M.D. Van Valkenburgh. In addition, faculty members plan to present a request for the resignation of CGCC president Dr. Frank Toda. The Upper Valley Lions Club dis- banded about two years ago, but a new club is set to be formed this month. Members of the Hood River Lions Club will hold an open house on May 14, from 7-8 p.m. at the Parkdale Community Center to an- swer questions and help the new club get off the ground with its own goals and objectives. Bring questions! Snacks and beverages will be provided. For more info, contact Greg Simpson at 541-490- 1535 or hrliongreg@gmail.com. 7 05105 97630 3 Hood River Valley Parks and Recre- ation District is holding a neighbor- hood meeting Tuesday, May 12 at 6 p.m. at the Hood River Fire Department (by the Aquatic Center) to discuss the pro- posed Southside Indian Creek Trail. The trail would link the undeveloped Eliot Park to the existing Indian Creek Trail near Dutch Brothers. Anyone in- terested in the trail development is welcome to attend. For questions and comments, contact Parks & Rec by email at parksandrec@gorge.net or by calling 541-386-5720. ‘Finding Peace Art Tour’ at the library Visit the Hood River Library between May 9 -22 for “Finding Peace: Art Tour,” an art project created by Columbia Gorge Com- munity College (CGCC). The project consists of a com- munity art show, a community conversation project, and a com- munity tour of prize winning pieces. This display is free and open during regular library hours. Visit cgcc.edu/news/cgcc- art-show-finding-peace to learn about all the events for the “Finding Peace.”