The Chronicle
SHC-0815-A01, 04:Layout 1
8/14/12
4:01 PM
Page 1
Young duo shares more than just softball, Page A13
Wednesday August 15, 2012
Son pleads not guilty in father’s death BY SHARI PHIEL The Chronicle
COLUMBIA CITY — Stephen Vincent Bahl, 59, pleaded not guilty on Aug. 13 to 25 charges, including one count of criminally negligent homicide, Stephen Bahl for his alleged role in the death of his elderly father. He remains a suspect in the disappearance of his 91-yearold mother. According to the indictment, Bahl “unlawfully and knowingly withhold necessary and adequate food” from his father, and caused his death by withholding physical and medical care. Bahl remains in custody following his Aug. 13 hearing before Circuit Court Judge Ted Grove. Bahl is also charged with three counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment, hindering prosecution and 20 counts of first-degree theft. Columbia City Police arrested Bahl on Aug. 7 after a grand jury indictment was reached in connection with the 2009 death of Bahl’s father, James Bahl. He was arrested at the home he had shared with his father, at 700 James Street, without incident. Stephen Bahl is also a suspect in the disappearance of his mother, Frieda Mae Bahl, 91, who went missing from the same Columbia City home sometime during the last two years. “We received information through confidential sources and through the law enforcement community that started the investigation,” said Columbia City Police Chief Michael McGlothlin. “We got the stakeholders involved: DHS, our major crimes team, the sheriff’s office and OSP, and we brought in some specialized help from some fraud folks to help with the investigation.” First-degree theft charges filed against Stephen Bahl See BAHL, Page A4
Chip sealing begins in Columbia County, Page A2
Highs to 91 Lows to 59
75¢ Vol. 130, No. 32 16 Pages
Gillnetting measure on ballot BY SHARI PHIEL The Chronicle
(This is the first in a twopart series that looks at ballot Measure 81 to ban the use of gillnetting along the Columbia River. This week we present the views of those supporting the measure. Next week we will look at the opposition to the measure.) A long-standing dispute over the use of gillnets along the Columbia River will be put to the vote in November now that Measure 81, also known as the “Protect Our Salmon Act,” has received the necessary signatures required to place it on the statewide ballot. “It will be a good thing for every sport angler and every person in the state of Oregon
because we will rebuild the Columbia River to be the salmon capital of the world, like it used to be,” said local fishing guide Joe Salvey. Perhaps not surprisingly, the ballot measure has garnered attention from numerous fishing and ecological organizations as well as state and local politicians and others. Put simply - if passed, Measure 81 would ban the use of gillnets by non-tribal, commercial salmon fishing operations except in specifically designated off-channel areas in the lower Columbia area. Instead, commercial operations would have to use seining methods to fish. Beach seining would require commercial outfits to purchase new equipment and is more labor intensive.
Courtesy Photo
The use of gillnetting by commercial salmon fishers has come under fire by sport fishing and environmental groups. Ballot Measure 81 will put the decision to ban the use of gillnets on the Columbia River to voters on Nov. 6.
If defeated, licensed commercial fishing operations would continue to be allowed
to use gillnets in the Columbia River mainstream up to Bonneville Dam.
“We will be able to harvest fish more efficiently without killing and sacrificing our wild salmon runs that are endangered under the Endangered Species Act,” said Salvey, who owns and runs Fish Hawk Adventures out of Scappoose. “It is not taking away any fishing opportunities from the commercial fisherman.” Gillnetting is a common fishing method used in both the open ocean and some rivers in which a vertical panel of netting are set normally in a straight line. Fish are then caught by being wedged (held by the mesh around the body), gilled (mesh slips behind the flap covering the gills) or tangled See NETTING, Page A4
Those m agnifice nt flying m achines
SHARI PHIEL / The Chronicle
Plane and car enthusiasts alike had the opportunity to see the latest developments at the Scappoose Industrial Air Park, such as this $60,000 gyroplane developed by Sportcopters, at the second annual Wings and Wheels event held on Aug. 12. You can find more photos of the event on page A16.
Found body is likely missing crew member
INSIDE Classified Ads. . . . . . . . A9 Legal Notices . . . . . . . . A9-11 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . A6 Opinions . . . . . . . . . . . . A5 Out & About . . . . . . . . . A7 Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . A13-16 TV Guide . . . . . . . . . . . A8 Weather. . . . . . . . . . . . A14
Sunny PAGE A14
TODAY’S WEATHER
Credit union board recall effort moves forward BY SHARI PHIEL The Chronicle
Courtesy photo
A crew member aboard the Queen of the West drowned after falling from the ship into the Columbia River on Aug. 7. BY SHARI PHIEL The Chronicle
RAINIER — The body of André Staples, a crew member aboard the Queen of the West sternwheeler, is believed to have been recovered by the Cowlitz County and Columbia County sheriffs’ offices on Aug. 12. At around 6:20 a.m., Cowlitz County deputies received a report that a body had been found floating in the Columbia River between Stella and Abernathy rivers, which is about six miles downriver from Longview. Deputies responded to the scene and were able to recover the body of an adult deceased male, tentatively identified as Staples. No suspicious injuries to the victim were observed.
Staples, who was from Birmingham, Ala., was presumed to have drowned after he fell from the passenger ship while it was docked in Rainier during the early morning hours of Aug. 7. Search teams from the U.S. Coast Guard and CCSO searched the river for several hours before calling off their search later that same day. Crew members aboard the Queen of the West contacted Coast Guard Sector Columbia River at approximately 1:10 a.m. on Aug. 7 via VHF channel 16 to report a male member of their crew had fallen from the stern of the vessel while the boat was moored. According to a statement issued by the Coast Guard, witnesses saw Staples surface once before losing See STAPLES, Page A4
ST. HELENS —A petition requesting a special meeting be held to recall five of the seven members on the St. Helens Community Federal Credit Union board of directors reached the required number of signatures and has now been submitted to the board. The board officially received the recall petition on Aug. 7 and now has 30 days to call a meeting in response to the recall effort. “The board stands by its decisions and believes they were made in the best interest of the credit union. They are disappointed the recall has occurred but are moving forward with the process in accordance with the credit union bylaws,” said CEO Brooke Van Vleet, who only recently joined the credit union. According to the petition submitted, actions taken by the board of directors, which includes the firing of longtime CEO Jeff Schwarz in May and the announcement of a proposed merger with Wauna Federal Credit Union in June, led to the recall effort. The proposed merger between the two credit unions was called off shortly after Van Vleet took the helm.
File photo
The St. Helens Community Federal Credit Union received a signed petition from its members to recall several board members.
The recall effort aims to remove board chair Lea Chitwood, treasurer Mike Hafeman, Richard Louie, secretary Marty Borrevik and David Graham. Only vice-chair Tom Tussing and Michael Ismert remain unchallenged. “We respect the right of members to voice their opinions through this process, but as the CEO, I do not support the recall effort,” said Van Vleet. “I believe this to be a baseless and impulsive recall that is only intended to be disruptive to the credit union.” Van Vleet went on to add that SHCFCU has been serving the residents of Columbia County since 1938. “This long-term success owes much to the strength and commitment of our volunteer board members who
give generously of their time and have a fiduciary responsibility to make sound decisions,” she said. The credit union’s board will now finalize its plans then notify members of the date and time of the special meeting. “Each board member will be speaking at the meeting and interested members are welcome and encouraged to attend,” said Van Vleet. St. Helens Community Federal Credit Union has branches in Scappoose, St. Helens and Rainier. Board meetings are held at the St. Helens branch at 1720 St. Helens St. For more information, call (503) 397-2376. For more information about the recall effort, go to takingbackourcu.org.