Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Hood River news. (Hood River, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (June 17, 2015)
G REATER G ORGE A2 Hood River News, Wednesday, June 17, 2015 www.hoodrivernews.com Columbia River Gorge oil train traffic sharply declines By Rob Davis The Oregonian/OregonLive, Staff Portland — (AP) Oil train traffic through the Columbia River Gorge has declined one-third or more from its peak amid an oil price de- cline that has pressured crude-by-rail shipments na- tionwide. A new report from BNSF Railway Co., one of the coun- try’s major crude-by-rail haulers, shows between eight and 12 trains, each a mile long, now haul oil through the gorg e each week. That’s down from as many as 18 each week in 2014. Oil trains have grown less frequent throughout the Pacif- ic Northwest as oil prices have collapsed. Traffic dwindled earlier this year along two Oregon routes — through Central Oregon and between Portland and an oil-barging facility in Clatskanie. A BNSF spokesman, Gus Melonas, said the railroad hasn’t moved any oil trains through Central Oregon since February. Traffic through the Colum- bia Gorge is significant be- cause it’s a reliable measure for how much oil is moving by rail in Oregon and Washing- ton. The gorge is the primary route used by shippers ex- tracting oil in North Dakota and sending it to West Coast refineries. North Dakota is the site of an ongoing boom that has pushed an unprecedented amount of oil onto railways nationwide, leading to a string of fiery accidents that have raised safety concerns in the United States and Canada. The BNSF report, which was released in May by the Washington Military Depart- ment, is required to comply with an emergency federal order from May 2014. Though federal transporta- tion officials had said they would end those disclosures, returning a veil of secrecy to oil train movements, they re- cently agreed to continue them indefinitely after com- ing under pressure from law- makers including U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both Oregon Democrats. Photo by Rob Davis, The Oregonian/OregonLive FEWER OIL trains are rolling through Columbia River Gorge per week due to a decline in oil prices, said BNSF Railway Co. in a new report. Washington Supreme Court: Skamania County in violation of GMA Ruling remands lawsuit back to Clark County Superior Court By Eric Florip The Columbian The state Supreme Court this week handed a victory to environmental advocates who argued that unzoned forest- land in Skamania County is in violation of the Growth Man- agement Act. In an opinion issued Thurs- day, the court found that Ska- mania County is more than six years past its December 2008 deadline to review its nat- ural resource land designa- tions. The opinion largely sided with conservation groups Save Our Scenic Area and Friends of the Columbia Gorge, who had filed a lawsuit in 2012 challenging the coun- ty’s inaction. That’s not the final word, however. The Supreme Court remanded the case back to Clark County Superior Court, where the lawsuit was origi- nally filed. “We still will continue to pursue this case and try to es- tablish protections on forest lands for forest uses,” said Nathan Baker, staff attorney for Friends of the Columbia Gorge. Large swaths of forestland in Skamania County are cur- rently “unmapped” and thus vulnerable to unregulated de- velopment, advocates say. The case centers around 15,000 acres of privately owned forestland referred to as “free- for-all” areas at one point in the court’s opinion. In 2007, Skamania County designated much of its private forestland as conservancy areas intended for the conser- vation and management of ex- isting natural resources. At the same time, it declared a building moratorium on 15,000 acres of land as it considered zoning classifications there. But the county continued extending the moratorium long after the 2008 review deadline came and went. In 2012, the county repealed the moratorium for all but 4,500 acres of the area. That’s when Save Our Scenic Area and Friends of the Columbia Gorge filed the lawsuit. The entire moratorium eventually lapsed. Shortly after the moratori- um was repealed, the county approved plans for the Whistling Ridge Energy Pro- ject, a wind farm just outside the Gorge scenic area bound- ary near Underwood. (A downsized version of the wind farm was later approved and upheld by the state, but never built.) As part of its case, the coun- ty had argued that the plain- tiffs’ challenge was untimely and should have been filed years earlier — an argument the Supreme Court rejected. The county effectively made the “unmapped” classifica- tion permanent in 2012 when it indicated its ordinances were no longer temporary, the court said. Celilo Park closed Jehovah’s Witnesses over weekend convention June 19 Celilo Park’s lawn area and restroom will be closed this weekend while crews remove haz- ardous trees and limbs from the campsite. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said the boat ramp and portions of the day use area at Celilo Park will remain open, but park rangers will ask campers to re- move all tents before Sat- urday. The park is expected to fully reopen to visitors and tent campers on Monday, June 19. Celilo Park is a popu- lar campsite on the south bank of the Columbia River, about 13 miles east of The Dalles at Exit 97, off Interstate 84. Fo r q u e s t i o n s a n d concerns, call 541-506- 7857. For more informa- tion about Celilo Park and other recreation areas near The Dalles Lock and Dam, visit http://www.nwp.usace.a rmy.mil/Locations/Col u m b i a R i v - er/TheDalles.aspx. Radio Club field day returning June 27 Radio Amateurs of the Gorge will be turning the Wal- Mart parking lot into a radio field day from Saturday June 27 to Sunday June 28. The radio team will be com- municating with other ama- teur radio operators across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The group’s capaci- ties include not only local radio and digital communica- tions, but the ability to make contact with operators throughout the world. Kids and parents will be able to “Get on the Air,” talk- ing with kids and adults in many lands, or even on a ship at sea. Hands-on activities will be held throughout the day Saturday. Local Scouts will have a chance to earn a Radio Merit Badge. The field day, which starts at 11 a.m. on June 27, is open to anyone, no license required. All volunteers will be accepted for the bevy of radio opportu- nities available. PORTLAND, OREGON — Jehovah’s Witnesses will soon hold their annual con- ventions at the Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum Arena in Portland. The local con- gregations in Hood River, The Dalles, Tygh Valley, Cascade Locks, Carson, White Salmon and Golden- dale have been extending personal invitations for all in the area to attend. The theme of this year’s pro- gram is “Imitate Jesus!” Stephen F. Fowler, a con- vention spokesman from Portland, said, “Jesus, the founder of Christianity, is widely considered as one of the most influential and sig- n i f i c a n t m e n wh o eve r lived. As Christians, a core belief of Jehovah’s Wit- nesses is that Jesus lived his life as a model for us to follow. The ‘Imitate Jesus!’ conventions will examine Jesus’ life, as outlined in the Bible, and emphasize how all — regardless of their background, lifestyle, or religion — can benefit in practical ways from his ex- ample and teachings. A highlight of the program will be the keynote address on Friday morning, entitled ‘Concealed in Him Are All the Treasures of Wisdom.’” The extending of person- al invitations has been on- going for the last two weeks, and will reach everyone from Central Oregon, the Columbia Gorge, Southwest Washington, the North Ore- gon and Southern Washing- ton Coast, and the Portland Metro area. There is no ad- mission or parking fee to this or any event sponsored by Jehovah’s Witnesses, as they are supported entirely by voluntary donations. The first of four, three- day events to be held in Portland will begin Friday, June 19, 2015, at 9:20 a.m. An estimated 28,000 will c o m e t o t h e Ve t e r a n’s Memorial Coliseum Arena for the Bible-based pro- grams. Jehovah’s Witnesses in the United States and Cana- da are organizing 453 con- ventions — in 29 languages — in 124 cities. Worldwide, there are over 8,000,000 Wit- nesses in more than 115,000 congregations. Skamania County Prose- cuting Attorney Adam Kick said the county was disap- pointed by the court’s opinion and is considering its options. The decision “upends several decades of precedent,” Kick said, particularly in allowing the claim to be filed under the state Planning Enabling Act. The court’s dissenting minori- ty opinion echoed that senti- ment. Environmental advocates cheered the majority opinion. “The time has come for the county to accept that it is legally obligated by state law to designate and protect forest lands for forest purposes,” Tom Drach, a Save Our Scenic HOOD RIVER NEWS (ISSN 07465823) is published twice weekly, every Wednesday and Saturday. Subscription rates: $42 per year prepaid ($36 for senior citizens, 65 and over) in Hood River County and western Wasco County, Oregon; and Klickitat and Skamania counties,Washington. Elsewhere, $68 prepaid per year. Known office of pub- lication, 419 State Ave., Hood River, OR 97031-2031. Periodicals postage paid at Hood River, Oregon. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to HOOD RIVER NEWS, P.O. Box 390, Hood River, OR 97031-0103. Area board member and Ska- mania County resident, said in a released statement. Almost 90 percent of Ska- mania County is either feder- al or state land. As a “partial planning” county, it is re- quired by the Growth Man- agement Act to designate and protect resource lands, includ- ing forests. As the case returns to Clark County Superior Court, the plaintiffs will likely push for a schedule for the county to comply with the law, Baker said. H APPY H OUR on the patio and Hood River’s best steaks! Trip Advisor Award of Excellence two years in a row 541-386-3940 Stonehedge Gardens Elks Lodge 18th annual Golf Tournament June 27, 1:45 p.m. Indian Creek Golf Course Entry includes: Cart, Dinner, Beer, Prizes & Silent Auction Questions? Call Mark Freeman 541-490-6035 markfree@gorge.net A fundraiser for Elks Student Scholarships WEEKLY SUDOKU This week’s Sudoku presented by: Y OUR B USINESS N AME Answers on Page A8 Food Bank rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Skamania Introduces Taste of the Place Make reservations today for this very special Sunday culinary series hosted by Skamania’s Executive Chef, Matt Hale, as he prepares a delightful four-course dining experience using locally sourced ingredients. Served at the lodge with selections from local vintners, Skamania’s “Taste of the Place” dining series is a delicious and relaxing way to start the week! • • June 21 July 19 August 16 October 18 December 20 • Reservations Required : 509-427-7700 STEVENSON, WA • 800-221-7117 • SKAMANIA.COM BBQ Fill in all 81 squares on the puzzle with numbers 1 to 9. You can use each number 1-9 only once in each nine square section, in each horizontal line of nine squares, and in each vertical column of nine squares. The puzzle is completed when you correctly fill every square. Advertise Your Business or Service Here call 541-386-1234
