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About The Hood River news. (Hood River, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (July 11, 2015)
A2 Hood River News, Saturday, July 11, 2015 THE P orch F ATALITY Continued from Page A1 BOOT HILL: Someone strapped a black thera- peutic boot to the railing on the 9th Stret-Montello stairs. WELL SAID: “The love of one’s country is a splendid thing. But why should it stop at the bor- der?” – Pablo Casals SEEN AND HEARD: Bumper sticker: “Occupy Your Garden” … kids keeping cool by bouncing on trampoline under tree with sprinkler hanging from branches … One Dad , after delivering toddler to pre-school, walking home with trike in hand and helmet in the other … Another Dad, riding unicycle and carrying tricycle ... Boy, about 10, managing to both kick soccer ball and hold small dog on leash, dog and ball going in different directions … “Dor- mant Lawns for Farms and Fish” signs going up … 8 p.m., Wednesday: patio full of diners at Apple Val- ley BBQ in Parkdale … TIME IS an illusion but distance is not: why is it the blue ODOT attractions sign on Highway 35 at Van Horn Drive says Mt. Hood Winery is a “1/2 mile” east? The winery is no more than 200 yards from High- way 35. The winery’s own sign and indeed the build- ing are hard to miss, but someone could drive right past them, up and around the butte, and get to the Pine Grove School – about a half-mile down – look- ing in vain for a place to partake of Pinot. Ironical- ly, there is another blue sign for Mt. Hood Winery on the highway, just up from Pine Grove’s other winery, Wy’east, that accurately reads 1/2 mile to Mt. Hood Winery. SPEAKING OF PEAKS: Those two wineries are named for the same mountain – Wy’east being the indigenous name for Mt. Hood. And isn’t it time for a collaboration between two other local businesses whose names extol local mountains? A brewer’s din- ner pairing Twin Peaks Restaurant and Double Mountain Brewery seems a natural. SURF-board’s up, surfboard’s down: the surf- boards decorating the former Pint Shack and the former Idlewild Market are gone, but you can see a piece of beach gear on display at Dog River Coffee: along with Michelle Yamamoto’s paintings inspired by “The Big Lebowski” (see Walter shout!) is the Hood River artist’s intricately-painted surfboard, just inside the door. SKI TIP: Plenty of changes (soda fountain!) at The Old Trunk on Dee Highway, en route to Park- dale, including eye-catching road signs employing old skis. night, July 5. Hood River County Sheriff ’s Office and Parkdale Fire and EMS also responded. Police found Schmidt dead in a white 1998 Ford flat rack truck, which was leaning against a tree on the side of the road. Officials closed off the highway in both directions for several hours during the investigation. According to an OSP incident report, the driver had been “unre- strained” and “alcohol ap- pears to be a factor.” T he highway was re- opened later that night, once OSP closed the investigation. Schmidt was born and raised in Baker City. He loved the outdoors and spent much of his time bird hunt- ing, fishing and camping. Schmidt’s most recent jobs were at NCS orchard and Valley Ag in Parkdale. Those close to Schmidt noted his dedication to fami- ly, friends and work in his obituary. “Everywhere Fred Photo submitted by Ashley Heck. FRED SCHMIDT runs in Camp Patriot’s Fourth of July Fun Run in Hood River, a 5k charity event that donates proceeds to disabled veterans. The next day, Schmidt lost his life in a car crash on Dee High- way. This was the last photo taken of Schmidt, said Janet Wilson, a local Camp Patriot coordinator. worked, he left a positive im- pression on those with whom he came in contact,” they wrote. The day before the car ac- cident, Schmidt ran in Camp Patriot’s 5k Fourth of July fun run in Hood River, an event that gives its proceeds to disabled veterans. Schmidt is survived by his son, Tyler, siblings Kip Tay- lor of Kentuck y, Kim Cantrell and Jackie Heck of Hood River, as well as other family members in Parkdale and around the nation. A celebration of life for Fred Schmidt will be held Sunday, July 12 at 3 p.m. at Hood River Valley Christian Church, 975 Indian Creek Rd. Hood River. A reception will follow at the church. Idaho motorcyclist dies in solo crash on Highway 26 On July 6, at about 5:11 p.m., Oregon State Police and emergency personnel re- sponded to a motorcycle crash at milepost 68 on High- way 26, east of Government Camp and the Highway 35 junction. According to Lieut. Pat Shortt, a 2009 Yamaha motor- cycle, operated by Wilbur F Fawcell, age 63, of McCall, Idaho, was traveling east- bound on Highway 26 when he struck a guardrail. Faw- cell was ejected onto on the roadway. His motorcycle came to rest 500 feet from the where he str uck the guardrail. Fawcell was de- clared dead on scene. The highway was partially closed for several hours while the investigation was conducted. The investigation is con- tinuing and excessive speed appears to be the contribut- ing factor to the crash. OSP was assisted on scene by the Ore gon De par tment of Transportation and Welches Fire Department. M USEUM Staley said he generally supports the council — and will continue to help out as a handyman on a couple of museum projects — but he was frustrated with the council on several matters, including Shuemate’s termi- nation. He said he was out of town when the Heritage Council voted to terminate Shue- mate’s position. He received an email regarding their de- cision after the fact. “I feel I really should have been there. I could have had my say,” said Staley. “I want- ed her to feel good when she moved on … that it wasn’t be- cause of her that it went bad.” Shuemate said that man- agement had been “unprofes- sional” and “unethical” dur- ing her tenure. She also said her position had been made difficult by the museum’s split from the County in 2013, in which the County closed the museum and audited its funds. She said the “fiasco” had made local businesses and stakeholders “weary of volunteering with the muse- um, having any business dealings with it and with vis- iting it.” Jean Harmon of the Her- itage Council said conflicts between the museum and the County had been resolved be- fore Shuemate took up the position. “They’ve been well sorted out since before (the direc- tor) came. We talked things over. We worked it out,” said Harmon. Heritage Council Chair Dottie Gilbertson said the museum director job is “a tough position,” and she named “experience” and “maturity” as factors the Heritage Council had taken into account when making its decision to fire Shuemate. “At that time, where she was in her career and her ex- perience didn’t fit with where we wanted to go for- ward with the museum,” said Gilbertson. “Dismissing Megan was a council deci- sion ... we were thinking of what is best for the muse- um.” Shuemate argued that she made significant achieve- ments while on the job. Ac- Moe Dixon RETURNS! RV Doc — Bruce Henderson Continued from Page A1 his yard. However, Staley said he also stepped down due to “frustrations,” specifi- cally that he disagreed with the Heritage Council’s deci- sion to terminate Shuemate. Staley said he was worried the council would get a repu- tation for “laying off our di- rectors.” Long-time director Connie Nice stepped down in 2014 for medical reasons fol- lowing a protracted series of org anizational chang es sparked in 2013 by county concerns about record keep- ing. “In my opinion, the Her- itage Council makes opin- ions where the long term re- sults are not addressed,” said Staley. July 8 th , 15 th , 22 nd , 29 th 6:00 pm $25 Buffet & Concert on the Patio 541-386-3940 Stonehedge Gardens See MUSEUM, Page A11 Gas Appliances Electrical Repair Get your RV road ready! Mobile Service & Repair State Fire Marshal Certification #001242-08 Service & Repair. I come to you! B RUCE H ENDERSON 541-993-5982 L ICENSED & C ERTIFIED Corrections Gary Munkhoff ’s letter to the editor, “A truck and water solution,” in the July 8 edition should have read that it takes two billion gallons of water per year to recharge the aquifer, not two trillion. The Hood River News strives for ac- curacy at all times. If we make a factu- al error, we welcome readers to let us know about it by calling the news de- partment at 386-1234. Photo by Patrick Mulvihill ART CLUB OPENS SHOW Chuck Kliesh of the Hood River Art Club and museum volunteer Dottie Gilbertson hang a Percy Manser painting Thursday to prepare for the club’s 66th anniversary art show at the History Museum of Hood River County July 10-18. On the lower level will be artwork by the club’s founding members, including Norman Tucker and Gilbert Clarke. A reception will be held July 18 from 1-4 p.m.; see page A1, Four to Go, for details. 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. FEATURING LIVE COUNTRY MUSIC SATURDAY, jULY 11 6-9:30 P.M. 1210 13th St., on the Heights 541-387-3300 Wild Columbia Salmon FRESH SALMON CAUGHT DAILY King Salmon Whole Steelhead or Blue Black Fillet Sockeye NEW CEDAR SMOKER “FREE” Alder Samples Smoked 108 Hwy 35, Hood River Next to Lampoei’s in Windance parking lot. Spring Hours Daily 9am-7pm 509-961-3260 We accept VISA & MC
