The INDEPENDENT, October 18, 2007
Page 21
Did You Know…
From page 19
over the last two years, includ-
ing a 2000 Ford from Lake Os-
wego, a 1999 Ford from St. He-
lens, and a 2000 and 2001
Ford from Hillsboro PD. We just
acquired a 2001 Chevrolet
Tahoe from Hillsboro that re-
places the K9 car, which is in
need of some repairs. With
each of the “free” vehicles I
have learned that the “free”
does not mean “free,” taking
into account that on each vehi-
cle equipment needs to be in-
stalled, they need to be painted
or decals need to be installed,
and the fact that ALL of these
vehicles, thus far, developed
major mechanical problems.
In 2005 we decided to try a
leasing program with the State
of Oregon when we leased a
1999 Chevrolet Tahoe K-9 vehi-
cle and a 1999 Chevrolet Ca-
maro which was a quasi-DARE
car leased by the Lions Club
and other donations. The prob-
lem with the lease program is
that we are still responsible for
all maintenance and repairs un-
der strict State guidelines. Both
of these vehicles ended up re-
quiring some substantial re-
pairs due to their age and we
subsequently returned both of
these vehicles to avoid any fur-
ther major bills. In 2006 we
leased the 1999 GMC SUV af-
ter retiring the 1996 Jeep fol-
lowing a major repair. The Jeep
was subsequently transferred
to Vernonia Public works. The
State of Oregon announced a
change in their lease rates so I
met with the previous City Ad-
ministrator to propose a new
fleet program for the VPD.
The new program started to
replace the older/used fleet
with new vehicles that are un-
der warranty. The vehicles
would be leased as a package
that included all of the equip-
ment. The older vehicles would
be sold, if viable, or disposed of
if not. Most agencies then retire
the newer vehicles at the end of
their warranties and can sell
them for decent prices. The
leases also included adding
video cameras to the patrol ve-
hicles for documentation of in-
cidents, accidents, and for the
protection of the officers and
citizens. All of the equipment as
well as the vehicles, have fac-
tory warranties which greatly
reduce
maintenance/repair
costs. The new vehicles also
offer greater fuel efficiency. The
Dodge Charger has V6 with the
power of a V8 but gets 20 to
27mpg compared to the older
Fords getting 10-17mpg. The
Ford SUV gets 17-25mpg com-
pared to 8-12mpg for the GMC
Suburban (2500).
Beside the cost savings of
the newer vehicles there is a
pride factor for both the officers
and the community. I have had
numerous visitors comment on
the professionalism of the VPD
which I know is attributed in
large part to the well-main-
tained vehicles. The number of
vehicles allows officers to have
a unit at their home for direct
responses to call-outs. Without
24/7 coverage, officers often
need to respond from home. An
emergency call-out would have
a greatly reduced response
time if the officer needed to go
to the station, obtain a vehicle
with the needed equipment,
then respond to a scene. The
take-home vehicle allows for an
immediate response with little
delay. All of the choices for the
VPD fleet have been made with
responsibility and in conjunc-
tion with the City Administra-
tion/budget committee. If you
have questions about the fleet
or any other aspect of the VPD
I encourage you to call me at
503-429-7335 or email me at
chief@vernonia-or.gov.
R. Nies of Banks; his father of Jack-
sonville, Fla.; mis mother, Julta “Olean”
Widener of Buxton; five brothers,
Ronald “Jim” Nies, Jr., and Edward
Leek, Jr., both of Buxton, Bob Gray of
Memphis, Tennessee, Randy Widener
of Hillsboro, and Jeffrey Widener of
Salem; six sisters, Anise “Jean” Paf-
ford, of Jacksonville, Flor., Darlene
McGinnis of Glenwood, Marlene Bigsby
of Buxton, Juanita Vanderzanden of
Aloha, Debbie Boeshans of Hillsboro,
and Marilyn Maynard of Mountaindale;
two grandchildren; nieces and
nephews.
Remembrances are suggested to
the American Cancer Society, 0330 SW
Curry St., Portland OR 97201.
Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home
in Forest Grove was in charge of
arrangements.
Creek. She moved to Vernonia in 1968
and to McMinnville in 1977, to Cherry
Grove in 1995 and to Forest Grove in
2000. She was a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by four
sons, Eddy, Teddy, Bobby, and Mickey
Wright; a daughter, Donna Wright; and
two brothers.
Survivors include two sons, Isaac
Franklin Wright and Ronald Wright,
both of Gaston; seven daughters,
Becky King of McMinnville, Janie Can-
devan and Jessie Telford, both of Esta-
cada, Bessie Johnson of Vancouver,
Wash., Patricia Englehart of Ken-
newick, Wash., Barbara Bitner of Wi-
chita, Kan., and Kathy Cogswell of
Gaston; a brother, John Church of San
Jose, California; 26 grandchildren; 23
great-grandchildren; and one great-
great-grandchild.
Macy & Son of McMinnville was in
charge of arrangements.
Obituary
KRIS DUANE CROWSTON
Kris Duane Crowston, 49, Hillsboro,
died October 4, 2007. A celebration of
life was held October 9 in the Vernonia
High School gymnasium. Interment
was private.
Mr. Crowston was born July 21,
1958, in Tacoma, Washington, to John
Gordon Edward and Patricia Joan
Crowston. The family moved to Vernon-
ia in 1965. He graduated from Vernon-
ia High School in 1976. He earned a
bachelor’s degree in business from
Oregon State University. He served on
the Vernonia School Board.
In 1979, he married Susan Griffin.
He managed restaurants and worked in
the heavy equipment business for 21
years. For the past two years, he
owned a screen-printing and embroi-
dery business in Hillsboro.
He was preceded in death by his
mother.
Survivors include his wife; two sons,
John of Los Angeles, California, and
Isaac of Beaverton; three daughters,
Patricia Ball of Portland and Kristin and
Stesha Crowston, both of Hillsboro; his
father and stepmother, Gordon and
Leilani Crowston of Tillamook; a broth-
er, Gordy of Medford; a sister, Brooke
VanMeter of Vernonia; three step-sis-
ters; two grandchildren; nieces and
nephews.
Remembrances are suggested to
the Vernonia High School Scholarship
fund.
Fir Lawn Mortuary of Hillsboro was
in charge of arrangements.
.
GERTRUDE GOODRICH
Gertrude Goodrich, 68, Forest
Grove, died October 1, 2007. Services
have been held.
Mrs. Goodrich was born October 6,
1938, in Pierre, South Dakota. Her
maiden name was Agee. She graduat-
ed from high school in Boise, Idaho.
In 1956, she married Delmar
Goodrich Sr. She had lived in Washing-
ton County since 1968. She worked as
a delicatessen manager.
She was preceded in death by her
husband.
Survivors include two sons, Delmar
Goodrich Jr. of Beaverton, and Terry
Goodrich of Banks; two daughters,
Sharon Goodrich and Shela Goodrich,
both of Forest Grove; a brother,
Howard Agee of San Antonio, Texas;
two sisters, Georgia Miller of Meridian,
Idaho, and Barbara Templeton of Mid-
dleton, Idaho; 10 grandchildren; and
eight great-grandchildren.
Remembrances are suggested to
the American Cancer Society or Wash-
ington County Hospice.
Donelson, Sewell & Mathews of
Hillsboro was in charge of arrange-
ments.
PEARL EDNA HARTFORD
Pearl Edna Hartford, 97, Forest
Grove, died September 30, 2007. Ser-
vices have been held.
Mrs. Hartford was born January 10,
1910, in Lewistown, Montana, to
Charles and Christina (McDonald) Per-
ry. She was raised in Lewistown.
In 1928, she married Chester B.
Hartford. They made their home in
Lewistown, later moving to Portland.
She moved to Forest Grove in the late
1990s. During World War II, she
worked in the shipyards, otherwise, she
was a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her
husband; two sons, Carl S. Hartford
and Chester P. Hartford; a daughter,
Joan C. Lungo; seven siblings; and five
grandchildren.
Survivors include her sons, Dale M.
“Jake” Hartford of Banks, Don K. Hart-
ford and Christy D. Hartford, both of
Forest Grove; four daughters, Gloria
Crutchfield of Phoenix, Arizona, Jean
Berlew of Topeka, Kansas, Charlotte
Lockett of Sandy, and Linda L. Gonza-
les of Milwaukie; 33 grandchildren; 50
great-grandchildren; 30 great-great-
grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Remembrances are suggested to
the Salvation Army, Cascade Division,
P.O. Box 8798, Portland OR 97208.
Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home
was in charge of arrangements.
DONALD JAN “D.J.” NIES
Donald Jan “D.J.” Nies, 48, Buxton,
died October 12, 2007. Memorial servic-
es were held October 16 at Fuiten, Rose
& Hoyt Funeral Home in Forest Grove
with Mr. Mark Peterson officiating. Inter-
ment followed at Buxton Cemetery. A
Donald “D.J.” Nies
celebration of life will be held Friday, Oc-
tober 19, at the Nies family home, 30003
N.W. Hwy 47, Buxton.
Mr. Nies was born August 17, 1959,
in Lakeland, Florida, to Ronald James
Sr and Julta Olean (Black) Nies. He
was raised in Florida and New York un-
til his family moved to Buxton when he
was 15. He graduated from Banks High
School in 1977.
In 1981, he married Ginger R. Grit-
tman. They made their home in Buxton.
He worked as a heavy equipment oper-
ator.
He was preceded in death by a
stepbrother, Larry Gray.
Survivors include his wife; two sons,
Bryan D. Nies of Buxton and Daniel j.
Grittman of Banks; a daughter, Kristin
Direct Cremation
475
$
Direct Burial
675
$
Plus Cemetery Costs
Tualatin Valley
Funeral Alternatives
~ There are Options ~
www.tualatinvalleyfa.com
237 West Main St., Hillsboro
503-693-7965
GLADYS MAY WRIGHT
Gladys May Wright, 79, Forest
Grove, died September 27, 2007. A
service has been held.
Mrs. Wright was born November 1,
1927, in Yates Center, Kansas, to
Adam and Ruth Church. She was
raised in Kansas. She moved to Sandy.
In 1944, she married Robert T.
Wright. They made their home in Elma,
Washington. From 1957 to 1963, she
lived in Beaver, then moved to Gales
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