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About The Hood River news. (Hood River, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (May 16, 2015)
New Principal Kim Yasui to Mid Valley – healthy hood river SPECIAL SECTION – A11-12 W EEKEND E DITION Vol. 109, No. 39 A2 Official Newspaper, City of Hood River and Hood River County HOOD RIVER, OREGON ■ SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2015 By KIRBY NEUMANN-REA News staff writer Faculty members and a student voiced strong concerns over safety policies and procedures at Colum- bia Gorge Community College fa- cilities in Tuesday’s board meeting at Indian Creek campus. The matter centered on an April 29 incident involving an alleged at- tack by a 50-year-old student on in- structor Jim Pytel. The suspect has since been trespassed from college properties, and the college has cre- ated a Facebook page featuring the suspect’s photo. Yet one student, Ashley Platt, said she has not been in- formed of this re- sponse, and has never been shown the photo. “I don’ t know Robb Van about it. Nothing Cleave has been done to in- form students,” said Pratt, who at- tends Indian Creek. “We’re not ignoring it,” chief op- erations officer Robb Van Cleave said. “She’s a student and she has not been informed,” responded Rob Ko- vacich, who teaches at Indian Creek. In other business, CGCC presi- dent Dr. Frank Toda told the board he was fulfilling Policy 7/A by in- forming them of an email he re- ceived from faculty member Tim Schell, notifying him that on April 25, the faculty had voted to censure Toda, citing “budget mismanage- ment; his inability to include facul- ty and staff in a process to address the current budgetary crisis; his decision to close the Hood River In- dian Creek Campus resulting in the community’s lack of confidence in Toda’ and other issues.” Toda nor any board member 2 Sections, 22 Pages www.hoodrivernews.com Security concerns at CGCC April 29 incident prompts calls for review of safety policies, procedures 75 cents made any comment on the letter which, also cites “his dismissal of key employees resulting in the col- lege being understaffed to the point where servicing students has be- come a dire problem.” The letter concludes, “Because President Toda’s actions collective- ly constitute a threat to the viabili- ty of CGCC, the faculty asks that the president resign immediately and that the college initiate a na- tional search for a new president.” The CGCC board has taken no ac- tion on the request. Board chair man M.D. Van Valkenburgh opened Tuesday’s meeting by talking about the suc- Ballots due on Tuesday Voters must turn in their ballots by 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 19 in the Hood River County Special Districts Election. It is too late to mail your ballot and be sure it makes it in time to the Elections of- fice; postmarks don’t count. The two drop-off locations (and any Hood River County voter can drop it at either place) are: the Hood River County Building, Sixth and State, or at Cascade City Hall. See CGCC, Page A10 Man pleads not guilty to murder in 2009 Eagle Creek fall By PATRICK MULVIHILL News staff writer Photo by Kirby Neumann-Rea C ORNER O F R AND A ND C ANINE S p o t l i g h t All eyes are on Cobey the dog, who would not leave the car after a Tuesday afternoon two-car collision until his owner was out. Paramedics and police could not coax Cobey out of the passenger seat until his owner, Jeff Alway, climbed over him – the passenger door too damaged to open. “He’s sensitive and this just scared him more,” said Alway, of Stevenson, collid- ed with Sally Harpe of Hood River, who was uninjured but cited for failure to obey a stop sign in the crash at Rand and Cas- cade. Responders noted that it demonstrates the need for a traffic light at the intersection. Bettina Bardin-Brown, right, came to retrieve Cobey and take care of him while his owner was checked out at the hospital. Alway was cited for having no vehicle insurance. a t u r d a y A Bend man accused of killing his girlfriend six years ago while hiking Eagle Creek Trail pleaded not guilty to murder Monday. Stephen Wagner Nichols, 40, ap- peared with his lawyer, Michael Arnold, of Eugene, at the Hood River County Courthouse on May 11 to plead not guilty to one count of murder for the death of his girl- friend, 23-year-old Rhonda Casto, of Portland, according to court records. Nichols is scheduled to stand trial in late May or June of next year. His next pre-trial hearing be- fore Circuit Court Judge John Olson is scheduled for Aug. 3 at the courthouse. Officials were alerted to Casto’s death at Eagle Creek Trail near Cascade Locks in March 2009. Ac- cording to a story in the March 18, 2009, edition of the News, Hood River 911 received a call on March 16, 2009, from a man who reported he had accompanied Casto on a hike. He claimed Casto had died after falling off a cliff on the trail. Rescuers arrived shortly after and found the body of Casto down an embankment approximately 100 feet off the trail. Nichols was charged with mur- der via a secret indictment filed in April 2014, accord- ing to cour t records—10 months before he was ultimately ar- rested in February. Officers arrested Nichols at San Francisco Interna- tional Airport on Stephen Feb. 2 on a nation- Wagner wide felony war- Nichols rant after arriving from China, according to the San Mateo County, California, Sher- iff ’s Office. His destination was Medford. Nichols has been in custody at the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility in The Dalles since February. In court Monday, Olson ruled that “the defendant is to be in See NICHOLS, Page A10 A weekly series about a day in the life ... Joe O’Neill goes worldwide with ‘Red Hand Adventures’ BY TRISHA WALKER News staff writer Photos by Kristin O’Neill JOE O’NEILL will be at Waucoma Bookstore on May 16 for the release of the third book in his Red Hand Adventure series, “Legends of the Rif.” His stories have him traveling abroad for research — and al- lows him to meet young fans, like these girls in Southeast Asia. Hood River author Joe O’Neill is a little busy these days. His new book, “Legends of the Rif,” the third in his Red Hand Adventure series, was released two weeks ago, and book tour dates are lining up. “Right now, we’re lining up school visits, lining up book- store talks, and (seeing about) getting an article in the local paper to get the word out,” O’Neill said. “We’re hitting the Pacific Northwest and have a good relationship with a lot of the schools and bookstores.” Last weekend, he was in Spokane, presenting a series of classroom visits to middle and elementary schools, and later this month, he has stops scheduled for Bend/Sunriver and Ashland. But on May 16, he’ll be at Waucoma Bookstore for a special book release party: not only will he be “hanging out signing books,” but there will be signed posters for young fans and a treasure hunt, complete with prizes. (Details A14). “It’s a way to participate and kind of have some fun: Book signing, treasure hunt, just kind of meeting people,” he said. See JOE, Page A14 Four To Go Yacht club opens season Sunday The Hood River Yacht Club based at Hood River ma- rina, opens its season Sunday with a boat parade at noon and club social at 3 p.m., followed by a 4 p.m.; pizza and salad fundraiser for the Gorge High School Sailing Team. Cost is $10, or $5 for those under 12. Any- one may attend the events. The boat parade theme is Norwegian Independence Day (May 17). Boat owners will deck out their vessels in Viking style, according to commodore Brian Douglass, adding that boating will likely continue all day. 7 05105 97630 3 Mosier Community Picnic Sunday Mosier Middle School 6th graders are hosting the Mosier Community Picnic May 17 from 5-8 p.m. at the Mosier Community School to raise funds for Outdoor School. Food will by Solstice and local beverages will be for sale; raffle drawing and enter- tainment round out the fun. Admis- sion is $7 for an individual or $20 for a family of three and includes ad- mission, one raffle ticket and a com- plimentary drink. Additional raffle tickets will be available for pur- chase. Everyone is invited to attend. County Board meets Monday Pie with the Mayor on Monday Hood River County Board of Com- missioners meets Monday starting with a 4:15 p.m. work session, lead- ing into the 6 p.m. regular session, both open to the public. Work session includes the Hood River Soil and Water/Watershed Group annual presentation, and up- dates on Parole and Probation and community development projects. In regular session the board will hold a public hearing on a staff proposal to change the zoning ordinance to in- crease board flexibility in respond- ing to land use applications. Mayor Paul Blackburn will host office hours at Bette’s Place on Monday, May 18 from noon to 1 pm. Come enjoy a slice of pie (or maple bar) and meet your Mayor. Bette’s is lo- cated in the Oak Mall at Fifth and Oak streets. This is the second “Pie with the Mayor” with Blackburn, who took of- fice in January.
