FIRE UPDATE
PARENTS WHO HOST
Mt. Adams
Complex
partially
controlled – A2
Keeping your kids safe – B6
M IDWEEK E DITION
Vol. 109, No. 56
HOOD RIVER, OREGON
Official Newspaper, City of Hood River and Hood River County
■
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015
75 cents
2 Sections, 22 Pages
www.hoodrivernews.com
Governor here Friday for first visit to Hood River
Kate Brown will sign
affordable college bill
at CGCC, tour pFriem
By PATRICK MULVIHILL
News staff writer
Oregon Governor Kate Brown
will pay Hood River a visit Friday.
The trip, which marks Brown’s
first stop in Hood River as gover-
nor, will give her a brief survey of
Kate Brown
local strides in education and busi-
ness.
First, Brown will hit CGCC’s In-
dian Creek Campus in Hood River,
where she will sign the affordable
community college bill, Oregon
Promise, which just cleared the
Oregon House and Senate. The
signing is slated for 9:30 a.m. and is
open to the public.
Oregon Promise, SB 81 is a bill
sponsored by Sen. Mark Hass (D-
Beaverton) and co-sponsored by
local representative Rep. Mark
Johnson (R-Hood River). The bill
allows Oregon high school gradu-
ates with at least 2.5 GPA who en-
roll in community college to get
free tuition, paid by the state. John-
son said the goal is “to make com-
munity college affordable for all
Oregon students.” (See page A4 for
Johnson’s comments on the bill.)
At Indian Creek, Brown will also
meet with local school faculty and
administrators in a roundtable set-
ting, discussing career and techni-
cal education.
After the college stop, Brown will
speak at the Leaders for Tomorrow
(LFT) brunch at the Best Western
Plus Hood River Inn. The organiza-
tion is celebrating its 20th anniver-
sary with a lineup of alumni speak-
ers. The brunch starts at 10 a.m.,
with Brown expected to speak dur-
ing the middle of the event, around
11:15 a.m. (Due to space limitations,
the event is not open to the general
public.)
Kristin Reece, program coordi-
nator, said she was “surprised” and
excited to have Brown speak at the
See VISIT, Page A9
Is 3rd
time
the
charm?
LUBA again upholds
City’s right to deny
Walmart expansion
By KIRBY NEUMANN-REA
News editor
Photo by Ben Mitchell
KB4C PARADE OF KITES
Kiteboarders take to the Columbia River during Saturday’s kite derby, part of the many activities that composed this weekend’s 9th Annual Kiteboarding 4 Cancer
(KB4C) event. The derby, which lasted six hours, saw great wind and drew 225 kiteboarders — the most in the event’s history. As of press time, fundraising totals
neared $115,000 — surpassing last year’s final tally of $112,000. All proceeds from KB4C go to Athletes 4 Cancer: a nonprofit that funds adventure camps for can-
cer survivors age 18-40. For more information on the event, turn to Sports on page A7.
Walmart, round 3, goes to the
City of Hood River.
Oregon Land Use Board of Ap-
peals (LUBA) ruled Friday in the
city’s favor on Walmart corpora-
tion’s latest appeal of the city’s
determination that the company
does not have the right to expand
its West Cascade store.
City attorney Dan Kearns in-
formed City Council of the deci-
sion Monday. Kearns said that he
is certain Walmart will appeal
the LUBA ruling; the company
has 21 days to do so, according to
See LUBA, Page A9
Hood River Art Club celebrates 66 years
BY TRISHA WALKER
IN THE BEGINNING
News staff writer
The Hood River Art Club — start-
ed in 1949 by a group of local artists
— is celebrating its 66th anniver-
sary with an art show July 10-18 at
the History Museum of Hood River
County.
The show, which will be open
daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed
Sunday) in the upstairs balcony,
will feature special works from
each of the club’s current mem-
bers, some of which will be for sale.
On the lower level will be paint-
ings from some of the founding
members, including Norman Tuck-
er and Gilbert Clarke.
To conclude the celebration, an
artists’ reception will be held July
18 from 1-4 p.m., with refreshments
and exhibits. Around 2:30 p.m.,
Marilyn Avolio, granddaughter of
Percy Manser, will give a short talk
about Manser, and at 3 p.m., artist
Gayle Weisfield will relate stories
about the classes she took with Phil
Tyler.
In 1949, a group of local artists
put out the word that they would be
meeting in the upper floor of Nor-
man Tucker’s father’s feed store
(now Discover Bicycles) in hopes of
starting an art club.
More than 100 people showed up
— both artists and those apprecia-
tive of the arts — and the Hood
River Art Club was born.
Other founding members includ-
ed a number of locally (and some-
times nationally) renowned artists
such as Lois Talbot, Phil Tyler,
Betty Dobson, Aatto (Otto) Annala,
Percy Manser and Gilbert Clark.
They held “spring and summer
paint-outs,” art shows and classes,
and membership steadily grew.
Annala was a noted sculptor;
Tyler, for his landscapes and West-
ern scenes; Tucker, for his country-
living and historical buildings;
Manser, for his watercolors; and
Clarke, for his colorful landscapes.
See ART, Page A10
Photo by Patrick Mulvihill
THE HISTORY MUSEUM is hosting an art exhibit through July 18. Art Club member Joyce Uczen hangs works in the mez-
zanine of the museum, located on Portway Avenue next to the marina. An artist’s reception takes place Saturday. Diverse
Hood River Art Club works are on display including “Daisies” by Aileen Hopkins. Turn to page A10 for more photos
Four To Go
GTA kicks off Hardham Scholarship drive
Gorge Technology Alliance (GTA) is about to launch another ini-
tiative to positively impact STEM education in the Gorge.
Ten years ago, Mid-Columbia Economic Development District
brought together the tech businesses in the five- county region to
work on a plan to help them grow. A new scholarship is being hosted
with the Gorge Community Foundation and named the Corwin Hard-
ham Memorial Scholarship. Fundraising for the scholarship is kick-
ing off on July 31, 6 p.m. at the Columbia Gorge Hotel with a dinner
and auction event sponsored by Insitu. In addition to hands-on demos
from high school students and businesses there will be music, food
and auction items including quadcopters and sailing trips. Tickets
must be purchased in advance and
are on sale now ($55 each) at
crgta.org/robot-rendezvous or by
calling 541-296-2266.
7
05105 97630
3
HR Transportation
District has opening
CL Action Team
meets Thursday
Hood River County Transporta -
tion District is seeking interested
persons in Hood River County to
fill a vacancy on its Board of Di-
rectors. One opening extends to
June 30, 2017. To apply for ap-
pointment send a letter of inter-
est and a resume and/or a short
biographical statement by Aug. 7
to: Dan Schwanz, Executive Direc-
tor, Hood River County Trans-
portation District, Columbia Area
Transit, P.O. Box 1147, Hood River,
OR 97031.
The Cascade Locks Action
Team gathers every month
for a no-host lunch in a local
business to share updates on
current projects, progress,
and problems impacting our
community. The meeting hap-
pens on the third Thursday of
each month at noon, with the
next meeting on July 16 in
the back room of the
Cascade Locks Ale House.
All are welcome.
Relay for Life is Saturday
Relay for Life Columbia River
starts at 8:30 a.m. Saturday with the
Survivor Breakfast, registration at 9
a.m. and opening ceremonies at 10.
The fundraiser for the American
Cancer Society moves to Hood River
Fairgrounds this year. The communi-
ty is welcome to support the 20 teams
and dozens of walkers, and partici-
pate in events including silent auc-
tions at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., White
Salmon Jazz Band performs at 11
a.m. and benefit lunch starts at 11:30
a.m. The event concludes at mid-
night.