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