THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF KLICKITAT COUNTY
Goldendale, Washington
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2022
Vol. 143 No. 17
$1.00
Serving the refugees A Klickitat County family flies to Poland to help Ukraine
NAOMI JAMES
IN MEMORIUM: Flowers were placed on the ground at a home in Goldendale where two lives were lost in a fire Saturday morning.
Fires take lives, property in Goldendale
LOU MARZELES EDITOR A White Salmon family heard the call of God and went to Poland to serve Ukrainian refugees. Lisa Evans and her children— Rhiannon, 18, Dasher, 16, and Charlotte, 14—boarded a plane for Warsaw and stayed there between April 13 and April 20. In those seven days, they sorted clothing and children’s toys and put food on trays at a pace of about 400 people per hour for Ukrainians displaced by the Russian invasion of their homeland. For the Evanses, it was something that just had to be done. “I bought the tickets to Warsaw, Poland, because I felt God pulling us in that direction,” Lisa says. “I had no idea what was next or how things would work out, but it did.” “My mom really felt the need to go over there and volunteer,” Rhiannon recalls, “and it was just this kind of indescribable feeling of like, ‘Hey, we need to go and help out and be a part of this.’ And so it was just, ‘Okay, then, let’s go.’ We decided that this was super important, so it was, ‘Okay, let’s take advantage of this opportunity.’” The immediate question to address was how to connect to the refugee aid cause once in Warsaw. Who do you see to enroll? How will you know what needs to be done? The Evanses had booked a stay with an Airbnb home in Warsaw, and that connection proved invaluable. “Our AirBnB host was amazing,” Lisa says. “She had us connected with where to go and how to get there so that our time was used efficiently. We did not know any Polish or Ukrainian, but you would be amazed at how well you can communicate with pointing,
A fire in the city kills two, one outside of town consumes a home and all belongings Saturday morning at 8:41 a.m. Goldendale Police Officer Nolan Randall received a report of a residential fire at 204 West Darland in Goldendale. The City Fire Department was immediately dispatched. Rural 7 fire and Centerville fire were also paged under an Automatic Aid agreement. Police and firefighting crews arrived within minutes and were given information that two residents were possibly inside the burning structure. Firefighters and Goldendale Police Officers began an immediate offensive attack and attempted entry, but rescue efforts were hindered due to the structure being fully involved. Fire crews were able to locate CONTRIBUTED
ANSWERING THE CALL: Left to right: Lisa Evans and her children Charlotte, Dasher, and Rhiannon felt God tapping on thier shoulders to go to Poland and help Ukrainian refugees. and how quickly you can pick up common, useful phrases.” The Evanses were soon making human contact through universally understood gestures. “We searched for several organizations to get connected with, but they often wanted volunteers who were already trained, and we never found something that was super solid,” Rhiannon says. “So we said, ‘Well, this isn’t going to stop us. Our Airbnb host connected us with organizations there in Warsaw and gave us a little tour of her area, the city, and we just went from there.” They found themselves initially at the Global Expo Center in Warsaw, a hulking 65,000-square-foot
event center now appropriated for temporarily housing and feeding huge numbers of refugees. The Evans took a tram from their Airbnb to the Center, walked in, and said, “We’re here to volunteer.” Someone understood their English enough to have them sign a requisite form and get issued their volunteer IDs and vests. In short order, they were going through bundles of clothing and toys to put them into giveaway assortments. For two days they staffed food serving lines. Refugees were an endless stream, and for many their journey did not end in Warsaw. “Because Warsaw had maxed its ab-
See Refugees page A8
the bodies of two persons. A fire investigation is underway and support has been requested from additional agencies. The scene was turned over to the Goldendale PD. No additional details on the deaths are being released at this time. We ask our community to be supportive and respectful of the family and their privacy at this time of loss. “There is no question an incident such as this weighs heavy on all. Our firefighters worked hard, demonstrating heart and compassion,” said Goldendale Fire Chief Noah Halm. Glenn Johnson of Q.Global Fire Investigation was contacted by Chief Hunziker and request-
See Darland page A8
Davenport fire takes home and everything in it LOU MARZELES EDITOR Joanne Davenport was in the midst of what promised to be a pleasant morning in her home. Suddenly she heard her fire alarm making an unusual sound, one she’d never heard before. “Usually when you burn something, it makes a beep,” she says. “This was a solid beep. I thought, ‘Is that my cell phone?’ Sometimes you get those Amber alerts that sound like that.” But then she saw flames crawling up a curtain. “I thought, ‘Oh my goodness!’ And it was from my space heater, but I always made sure it did not touch anything. Apparently it was too hot.” Her first impulse was to throw water on it. She immediately re-
alized she wouldn’t be able to do it fast enough, with flames already consuming the curtains. “I just grabbed my dog and my phone, and I called 911, and they said, ‘Get out.’ And I wish I hadn’t done that. I wish I just grabbed my purse and ran out and then called, but I left everything. Oh, wow. I lost everything.” “Everything” includes all the contents of her purse, her car—quickly looking like a burnt marshmallow—and, worst, a cat. Lost too were her daughter Areilla’s furniture and clothing that had been stored there. The house lit up rapidly. The entire structure was a smoldering mass in less than a half hour. “I’m very sad,” Davenport says. Meanwhile she is staying with
See Fire page A8
Zoller announces campaign for County Commissioner
CONTRIBUTED
LOCAL BUSINESS WINS MAJOR AWARD: Goldendale’s Toss Products had a great time at the NAMTA Creativation show in Orlando last week. Their Paint Plates®, recycled paper palettes for artists, got a lot of attention, and Toss Products was chosen as the Best New Exhibitor at the show. NAMTA is the primary association of the art/ creative materials industry members. It is internationally recognized as a leader and a unifying force in the support, sustainability, and advocacy of arts and crafts and the art/creative materials business. Toss Products LLC is a member of NAMTA. Left to right: Scott and Felicia Gray, Nicole and Rick Lundin.
In a statement Monday morning, Lorraine Zoller announced she was running for District No. 2 Klickitat County Commissioner. Incumbent David Sauter is not running for re-election. “First, I would like to begin with my special thanks to David Sauter, our current District No. 2 Klickitat County Commissioner, for his many years of service and dedication to the people of Klickitat County,” Zoller said. “I am honored by his consideration and support in asking me to run for his position. “Having lived, worked, raised my family, and managed our small business in Klickitat County for over 38 years, I am pleased to announce my candidacy for District No. 2 Klickitat County Commissioner.” Zoller then offered an overview of her history and qualifications: “For the past 10 years, I have served as a member of the Klickitat County Planning Commission,” she said. “I have a strong background working with Klickitat County on Watershed Planning, Fish Recovery, and other diverse boards as a
Facilitator Administrator and have kept fiscally responsible budgets for multiple grants and projects. Not daunted by a complex subject, I am well known for my tenacity and thinking out of the box, all the while making sure we meet the content of the law, treating everyone fairly and with respect. “I have worked with many of our delegates in Olympia on behalf of Klickitat County and maintained those excellent relationships. “As a mother and grandmother, I understand the needs of parents and support access to better health care, education, affordable housing, and good jobs.” Zoller said she will be at the Goldendale Home and Garden Show May 6 through May 8 and at other upcoming local events.
See Zoller page A8