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About The Hood River news. (Hood River, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (May 27, 2015)
SKIING ACROSS FINLAND Enviro-Gorge Award GREATER GORGE, A2 M IDWEEK E DITION Vol. 109, No. 42 75 cents 2 Sections, 22 Pages KALEIDOSCOPE, B1 Official Newspaper, City of Hood River and Hood River County HOOD RIVER, OREGON ■ WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015 www.hoodrivernews.com Repeat winners: Eagle athletes shine at State 5A track Photos by Brett Requa SEBASTIAN BARAJAS throws the shot put, and Jestena Mattson focuses on the high jump in weekend competition at Hayward Field in Eugene. The two HRVHS competitors won state for the sec- ond year in a row in other events – the discus for Barajas and the 100- and 200-meter races for Mattson. See page A7 for details on a successful weekend for the girls’ and boys’ track teams at the meet in Eugene. DENNY LEONARD of Hood River American Le- gion Post 22 looks on as boy scouts prepare to raise the US flag to half-staff Monday morn- ing at Idlewild Cemetery. The annual Memori- al Day ceremo- ny honors fallen veterans of Hood River County. Photo by Patrick Mulvihill By PATRICK MULVIHILL News staff writer About 400 people assembled at Idlewild Cemetery Monday morn- ing to remember the men and women who gave their lives for their country. The annual Memorial Day cere- mony saw an impressive turnout — a boost of about 100 people from last year, said Denny Leonard, event organizer and Hood River American Legion Post 22 represen- tative. Leonard attributed the in- crease in attendance, in part, to weather. He said last Memorial Day was “drizzly” and unpleasant, unlike the clear (if breezy) condi- tions Monday. This year’s theme was “Honor- ing Those Who Have Served,” and its centerpiece was a 6-foot illumi- nated floral wreath dedicated to all veterans buried in Hood River County. The wreath, designed by Peggy Ross of Hood River, was adorned with flowers, tiny flags and striped ribbons. “We dedicate this wreath to your service and your sacrifice. And we thank each one of you for our free- dom,” said Idlewild sexton Bob Huskey, who lead the day’s presen- tations. The ceremony featured speeches by the American Legion, twenty- two veterans’ names added to the Walk of Honor, a flyover by WAAAM pilots, a regal score pro- vided by the Hood River Valley High School band, a musical trib- ute by local singer Andy Streich and a three cannon salute follow- ing “Taps.” This year marked the final Memorial Day concert for HRVHS Music Director Mark Steighner, who will be retiring in June. The American Le gion presented Steighner with a certificate of ap- preciation and a small flag to honor his partnership with the event, which he has been involved with for decades. “Every time we make a call, you guys just go 100 percent beyond the call of duty,” said Huskey, address- ing Steighner and the band. Steighner has taught in Hood River since 1979, and has taught choral and instrumental music at HRVHS since 1984. In January, he See HONOR, Page A10 Odd incidents, arrests highlight a busy Memorial Day weekend By PATRICK MULVIHILL News staff writer Two strange incidents involving vehicles stood out in a busy but otherwise ordinary Memorial Day Weekend for local law enforce- ment. On Saturday morning, a driver smashed an SUV into a Cascade Locks family’s home, narrowly missing somebody sitting inside. There were five people inside the house when the vehicle burst through the front side of the structure — but none were harmed, said the Hood River County Sheriff ’s Office. The driver, Zachary Jon Struthers, 26, of Cascade Locks, crashed the SUV Land Rover through two nearby fences, causing “signifi- cant property damage” at three other homes on Forest Lane before the vehicle ground to a halt inside the home on nearby Clark Street, Sheriff ’s deputies said. Photo courtesy of the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office. An SUV Land Rover smashed into a family’s home at Clark St., near Forest Lane in Cascade Locks Saturday morning. The driver was ar- rested and charged with DUII. Struthers was transported to Northern Oregon Regional Correc- tions Facility and lodged on charges of DUII controlled sub- stance, reckless driving, five counts of recklessly endan- gering and an out- standing Lane County warrant. He was also charged with unlawful pos- session of meth. A contractor was called to the crash Zachary Jon scene to ensure the Struthers house was struc- turally stable before the vehicle was pulled free at about 6 p.m. On Sunday, a Hood River man fell from a moving vehicle and suffered severe injuries. The driver was ar- rested and charged with driving under the influence and reckless driving. Steven Ray Ram, 40, is in critical con- dition at Le gacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland. The driver, Au- drey Jose phine Muehlhausen, 25, Audrey also of Hood River, Josephine was ar rested at Providence Hood Muehlhausen River Hospital on charges of driving under the influ- ence of alcohol and reckless dri- Four To Go Little Shredders holds open house ‘Cover Oregon’ application fair on Friday HRCSD board meets tonight in Cascade Locks Little Shredders Dental, on the Heights, opened its door this spring, and Christopher A. Swisher, DDS and staff invite the community to an open house on May 28, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The clinic is open Wednesday-Friday, and the first and third Monday of each month. Little Shredders is located at1615 Woods Court, just off Pacific Avenue. Eastern Oregon Center for Inde- pendent Living hosts a Cover Ore- gon application fair, Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the State of Oregon’s Department of Human Services office in Hood River, Robert Crooks of the Center for Independent Living said represen- tatives will be on hand to help people with special needs in the insurance application process. DHS is located at 1610 9th St., just off Pacific Avenue on the Heights. Hood River County School District Board of Directors meets at 6:30 p.m. tonight at Cas- cade Locks Elementary School, 300 WaNaPa St. Agenda items include a re- view of proposed start times for the 2015-16 school year, and ap- proval of start times for sec- ondary schools for next year. The board’s next meeting will be June 9 at the District Office in Hood River. 7 05105 97630 3 Markets provide local produce Gorge Grown Farmer’s Mar- ket continues Thursday, 5-8 p.m. at Hood River Middle School, on West May Street. Produce, flowers, vegetable starts, as well as meat, breads and prepared foods are avail- able. Coming June 6, Hood River Saturday Market starts its new season in a new loca- tion, Third and Oak in the parking lot of Oak Street Pub (formerly British Pub). See CRASH, Page A10