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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 2010)
The INDEPENDENT, January 21, 2010 Page 21 Letters From Page 3 his hand on the back of the head so hard that she blacked out.” The victim also alleged that Mr. Kay enlisted the coop- eration of fellow officers to in- timidate her throughout the liti- gation process. The federal district court eventually dismissed the case, “without prejudice,” against Mr. Kay which meant that the victim could re-file in a state court. The victim filed an appeal. The federal appeals court agreed with the federal district court. I assume that the federal court felt that not all options were ex- hausted against Mr. Kay in the state court and, therefore, the federal court lacked jurisdiction over the matter. At no time did the federal court indicate that the allegations made by the vic- tim were without merit. The vic- tim never re-filed in the state court. I’m guessing the reason was a lack of funds, mental ex- haustion, or there may have been a settlement. Did the victim just fabricate these allegations? Were tens of thousands of dollars and years of litigation spent over a fanta- sy? A few folks would probably say “yes” to these questions but most rational thinking indi- viduals would agree that these events probably did occur. A complaint against Mr. Kay had recently been filed with the DPSST. The result of DPSST’s findings was published in the January 7, 2010, edition of The Independent. However, be- cause of the DPSST’s findings Mr. Kay is still a public safety officer in Vernonia and the vic- tim still suffers as a result of the abuse inflicted upon her. Vernonia’s police Chief Frank Grace “exonerated” Mr.Kay as though it was busi- ness as usual. Exonerating im- plies that the event described above did not occur. It appears Mr. Grace may be adhering to the “blue curtain” of police si- lence in an attempt to protect a fellow officer. If he is, then this places a question mark on his integrity and gives his credibili- ty a black eye. It has been said that Mr. Grace is a well respect- ed instructor of police ethics, who occasionally teaches ethics at the DPSST academy. If this is true then I must ques- tion Mr. Grace’s ethics, espe- cially when it involves domestic violence. A person can spend years learning about ethics and still not be ethical in some ar- eas. We see this every day; lawyers, politicians, police chiefs, etc. Trust and ethics go hand-in-hand. We, as taxpay- ers and members of the public, shouldn’t tolerate a police chief who can’t be trusted. Domestic violence is a seri- ous matter; a disease in our so- ciety. Victims of domestic vio- lence and anyone in support of Jack and Ellen (Rothery) Hart- man. The family moved to Sea- side where he graduated from high school in 1968. He earned an associate degree from Clackamas Community College in Small Business Management in 1990. He worked as a logger for Crown Zellerbach until a logging accident forced him out of the woods. He worked as an automotive mechanic until retir- ing in 2002. With his son, Shawn, he also owned and op- erated Fester’s Automotive and 4X4 until 2002. He was preceded in death by his mother; a brother, Jack Edward Hartman; and a sister, Sharon McClean. Survivors include his wife, Teresa of Vernonia; two sons, Shawn “Fester” and K.C., both of Vernonia; and a brother, John of Vernonia. Fuiten, Rose and Hoyt Fu- neral Home was in charge of arrangements. 1934, in Hillsboro, to Lawrence and Pauline M. (Stewart) Davis. He was raised in Hills- boro. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He was a truck driver. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy; and a brother, Gary. Survivors include two daughters, Tamie Davis and Pamela Davis-Aucoin, both of New Mexico; three siblings, Jeannette Lightfoot of Hills- boro, Roberta Bettis of Man- ning, and Larry Davis of Sea- side; his children’s mother, Val Gutierrez of New Mexico; long- time friend, Jacky Ray of Cres- cent City, California; nieces and nephews. Remembrances are sug- gested to Hospice. Duyck & VanDeHey Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. waukie. In 1945, she married Clarence Ormsby. She contin- ued to teach school until retir- ing in 1983. She was preceded in death by her husband. Survivors include a son, Richard Ormsby of Happy Val- ley; three daughters, Rosemary Two-hey of Brush Prairie, Washington, Marybeth Van Bu- ren of Portland, and Alice Freid of Woodinville, Wash.; and five grandchildren. Remembrances are sug- gested to St. Agatha Catholic Church in Portland. these victims should boycott any person, any business, or any institution that appears to condone domestic violence. This would include any mem- ber of the city council, the city administrator, and the chief of police. Thank you, The Indepen- dent, for printing my opinion. Edward Johnson Vernonia Code 22 aids victims of domestic violence To the Editor: Write in “Code 22” on Your Oregon Tax Form: Columbia County Women’s Resource Please see page 22 Obituary CHRIS BRUSMAN Chris Brusman, 48, Long Creek, died January 11, 2010. A memorial service was held January 17 at the Long Creek Community Church. Mr. Brusman was born July 12, 1961, in Missoula, Mon- tana, to Mary Dill and Herb Brusman. He was a logger. Survivors include his wife, Bobbie Sue; a son, Abe Wood- ward; a daughter, Brandie Lu- cas; his parents; two sisters, Debby Hendrickson and Kim Kell; and grandchildren. Remembrances are sug- gested to the family in care of Fallon Logging Co., 7340 Be- wely Creek Rd., Tillamook, OR 97141. Sunnyside Little Chapel of the Chimes was in charge of arrangements. DONALD H. “DON” HART- MAN Donald H. “Don” Hartman, 61, Vernonia, died December 25, 2009. Private interment has been held. Mr. Hartman was born Octo- ber 23, 1948, in Oregon City, to GREGORY STEVEN CULP Gregory Steven Culp, 41, Vernonia, died January 8, 2010. Mr. Culp was born August 28, 1969, in Springfield. Fuiten, Rose and Hoyt Fu- neral Home was in charge of arrangements. KENNETH LEE “KEN” DAVIS Kenneth Lee “Ken” Davis, 75, Hillsboro, died January 7, 2010. A private service was held at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. Mr. Davis was born June 15, MARY JEAN ORMSBY Mary Jean Ormsby, 93, Hap- py Valley, died July 1, 2009. A mass was held. Mrs. Ormsby was born No- vember 11, 1915, in Portland, to Giovanni and Rosa Fossatti. She graduated from Milwaukie High School in 1934, then at- tended Pacific University be- fore transferring to the Oregon Normal School (now Western Oregon University) in Mon- mouth and graduating in 1938 with a teaching degree. She began her teaching career at Washington Grade School in Vernonia. After two years in Vernonia, she taught in Mil- THOMAS CHARLES RICE Thomas Charles “Tom” Rice, 75, Forest Grove, died January 1, 2010. Funeral services were held January 11 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Forest Grove. Dedica- tion services were held at Mountain View Cemetery in Forest Grove. Mr. Rice was born Septem- ber 11, 1934, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Austin and Annie (Steward) Rice, Sr. He was raised in Farmington, Utah, un- til the family moved to Vernonia in 1947. In 1957, he married Yvonne Boyd. Their marriage was sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple for time and all eternity on June 29, 1970. They made their home in Forest Grove. He served in the U.S. Army. He owned and operated Rice Lum- ber Co. for several years, start- ing in 1959. He and his wife owned and operated B&B Real Estate in Forest Grove from 1970 until 2007. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Clara Serber, Margaret Kouva, and Myrtle Montgomery. Survivors include his wife; one son, Thomas D. of Idaho Falls, Idaho; two daughters, Barbara Beitelspack of Gaston, and Melinda Tovey of Rose- burg; a foster daughter, Michele Thelin; seven siblings; Glenn, Austin, Jr., Irvin, Lynn, Lemuel, May Criswell, and Hazel (Carol) Kent; nine grand- children; one foster grandchild; nieces and nephews. Remembrances are sug- gested to the Missionary Fund in Care of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2nd Ward, 2700 Leon Drive, Forest Grove, OR 97116. Duyck & VanDeHey Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.