Commission meeting sees first split vote of the year
RODGER NICHOLS FOR THE SENTINEL
Klickitat County Commissioners had the first split vote of the year at their February 18 meeting. It involved a motion that was tabled two weeks previously. Commissioner Lori Zoller had moved to fill a vacant case manager position for the probation department, a position that has been vacant for two years.
Spencer Sieler has made it to Goldendale
JORDAN MAYBERRY FOR THE SENTINEL
On January 1, Spencer Sieler took his position on the Board of Directors for the Goldendale Chamber of Commerce. This milestone marks not only a step forward for his business, High Prairie Home Inspections, but also a continuation of his family’s journey back to Goldendale, an aspiration that took root years ago.
“I have always wanted to be a
home inspector,” Sieler shares.
“It’s always been one of those careers in the back of my mind. I’ve always wanted to do it as early as high school, but no one ever pushed me to try it, so I was always stuck with the more stable jobs.”
For years, Sieler worked as a service manager, but a simple conversation with his wife changed everything. “Then finally in 2021 my wife was like, ‘Why don’t you be a home inspector?’ We were sitting at dinner one
night. I was a service manager for a crane company at that point. She pushed me to go for something I wanted, and it’s really worked well.”
Sieler’s history in the Goldendale area began at the outset of winter, upon his graduation from technical school at the age of 22. “I drove around one winter in December and stopped at every wind farm office I could and ended up getting a job in Goldendale. Other than that, I had only passed
“The motion is to fund the position for one year,” she said, “with the caveat in the motion that during that time the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) and the cities would commit to reviewing the idea of a public safety levy. If the levy was not found possible, or did not pass by September 2025, the BoCC would pursue and finalize city contracts for probation services that would be implemented January 1 of 2026.”
Zoller was joined by East Klickitat Circuit Court Judge Rick Hansen.
“Maybe we didn’t emphasize this enough,” he said. “We are at a point that our probation department’s basically in a crisis mode. They are overburdened, overworked, and some of them are threatening to quit because they can’t handle the case load. We have to make some decisions rather than tabling them down the road all the time. If you’re in a position where you can’t tell us we can fund that position now, then we have to look at trying to cut these services, which are essential. I don’t even want to try and envision what that might look like.”
Chair Ron Ihrig said he preferred a broader picture: “It’s not that there’s not a needed position, but I’d rather look at it collectively because I’ve heard a lot of other needs, too. And I will not use interest income to fund positions. I don’t want to go hiring people today and then let-
ting them go later in the year.” When it came time to vote, Zoller’s motion was defeated, with Commissioner Todd Andrews and Ihrig both saying they want a policy that considers the effects of their actions on all county employees as a group.
In the morning workshop session, County Planner Scott Edelman noted the planning commission was set to meet that evening. “There are a few fairly controversial issues,” he said, “especially based on setbacks from riparian areas, and adoption of the critical habitats and species. There’s nobody in the middle on this issue. All the comments are, ‘These new standards are way too strict,’ or ‘You need to go further and adopt as strict a standard as possible.’” Commissioners also heard presentations on the Snyder Creek enhancement projects and on the Klickitat Old Mill site.
Under the consent agenda, commissioners approved:
• An interlocal cooperation agreement with Yakima County.
• Local agency supplemental agreement No. 3 with Applied Archaeological Research, Inc. for on-call Archaeological Services.
• Local Agency Supplemental Agreement No. 1 with Bell Design Company for on-call surveying services.
• An interlocal agreement with Skamania County for maintenance of the Northwestern Lake Bridge.
• Publication of costs using county forces in 2024 on construction projects.
• A joint grant management agreement with the City of The Dalles for phase 2 of the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport business park.
• Authorization to advertise for a vacant legal administrative assistant I in Goldendale for East District Court.
LOSING BATTLE?: Holly Koon, a high school biology teacher for over 30 years, works through a lesson with two of her students.
Failing student performance fuels school funding debate
TAYLOR RICHMOND WASHINGTON STATE JOURNAL
Holly Koon struggles every day in her 9th-grade biology classes to help students achieve, but sometimes it seems like a losing battle. Chronic absenteeism, growing class sizes and fewer classroom helpers all get in the way of student learning, she said.
“All students can absolutely learn, and they can learn to standard,” she said. “I have a biology class right now with 36 students in it; I have one instructional aid. How do you – in 60 minutes a day – individualize and support all 36 students?”
Koon’s question is one that echoes across Olympia this Legislative session as Democrats and Republicans debate how to spend dollars dedicated to education. Fueling that discussion is a national assessment that shows 71% of Washington eighth graders are not proficient in math, compared to 58% in 2013.
Although Washington is doing better than the national average, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal agrees that student performance needs to improve.
“We have to make significant gains in elementary and middle school math in order to set up our students for maximum success in high school and beyond,” he said.
His plan includes fully funding basic education, including materials, supplies and operating costs and special education.
Reykdal said the difference between what the state supplies districts, and what they are spending on materials, operations and special education totals more than $800 million.
Democrats agree with Reykdal’s assessment. At a recent rally, Sen. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, said: “There is nothing more important for the state government than to provide ample funding for the education of all kids who reside in the state of Wash-
ington.”
Republicans say they agree funding is an issue but Rep. Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, said legislators should carefully target new spending.
“The Legislature needs to acknowledge the reality and the highly disproportionate balance of power between teacher unions and the school districts,” he said. “If we just write blank checks to the districts, that money will go to teacher salaries.”
While Stokesbary is happy teachers have “one of the highest average teacher salaries” in the nation, he says money should be spent more directly to improve student outcomes.
For example, House Bill 1832, sponsored by Rep. Michael Keaton, R-South Hill, wants to tie teacher bonuses to test scores.
Under his plan, National Board-certified teachers would no longer receive extra money. Instead, money would be given to
Fentanyl cuts a deadly swath
LOU MARZELES EDITOR
Continued from last week. Medical experts across the country agree that fentanyl represents a uniquely deadly threat because of its potency and a general lack of full information about its lethal nature. Here, a consolidation of expert opinion addresses what needs to be done.
A multi-pronged strategy for a complex crisis
• Enhanced public education: Simmons and Wilkins agree that awareness is paramount. Communities need to be educated not only about the dangers of fentanyl but also about the critical steps to take during an overdose.
• Robust safety protocols for first responders: Ensuring that emergency personnel are protected is essential for maintaining an effective response. Proper training and equipment can
prevent accidental exposure.
• Long-term research and development: As Mooney noted, there is an urgent need for innovative treatments that move beyond the temporary reversal of overdose symptoms to address the lasting impact of fentanyl on the brain and body.
• Policy and community-based interventions: Volkow and Lembke both stressed that controlling the fentanyl epidemic requires coordinated policy initiatives—such as stricter controls on illicit manufacturing— and community programs that integrate harm reduction with accessible addiction treatment services. The fentanyl crisis has reverberated far beyond the emergency room. It is affecting entire communities—straining healthcare resources, burdening emergency services, and contributing to a climate of fear and uncertainty. “We’re not just
TAYLOR RICHMOND, WASHINGTON STATE STANDARD
CONTRIBUTED
FINALLY IN GOLDENDALE: Spencer Sieler has established his home inspection business in town and joined the board of directors of the Goldendale Chamber of Commerce.
LaureL Demkovich
Washington state standard
Building more housing in rural parts of Washington is again top of mind for some state lawmakers.
Bills to allow backyard cottages in new areas, to expand where developers can receive tax breaks for building apartments and to let property owners split their plots are all making their way through the legislative process.
Similar proposals came up last year, but many failed, sparking criticism from Republicans who said the Democratic majority was not doing enough to expand rural housing.
This year, bipartisan support and early public hearings could signal an opening for getting the proposals across the finish line before the legislative session ends in April.
Expanding ADUs
One bill from Rep. Sam Low, R-Lake Stevens, would allow counties to approve detached accessory dwelling units, like backyard cottages or mother-in-law suites, in areas outside of cities. The proposal is cosponsored by House Housing Chair Strom
Peterson, D-Edmonds. Under the bill, owners could have one additional detached unit on their property. It must use the same driveway and sewage system as the primary home. Water usage must be metered and cannot exceed the limits under current law when combined with the usage of the main property. The detached units could not be bigger than 1,296 square feet, excluding garages, porches and unfinished basements.
The proposal would also require counties to penalize those who build these units without proper permitting and to keep track of all the units built outside of their urban areas.
A similar idea last year got pushback from Democrats and groups like Futurewise, who warned of suburban sprawl in areas that lack transit, public sewer systems, firefighting services and other resources.
Supporters of the bill reject that argument.
“This is not about destroying the environment. This is not about blowing up the GMA,” Low said, referring to the state’s Growth Management Act,
which is designed to concentrate development in urban areas and to preserve open space, among other goals. “This is truly about having more affordable housing options for our young people, for our seniors.”
Senate Housing Committee Chair Jessica Bateman, D-Olympia, said there will be a similar bill in the Senate and that supporters will continue to work on concerns around sprawl.
Another proposal that has support this year would allow property owners to split their lots into smaller parcels.
The lot-splitting bill has passed the House multiple times in recent years but has yet to clear the Senate.
Sponsor Andrew Barkis, R-Olympia, is hopeful this is the year. He told the House Housing Committee last week that there has been a lot of work done since the last session to address opponents’ concerns, particularly when it comes to ensuring that the lots are developable after they are redesigned.
The bill would prevent cities from denying applications to split lots into two. Both lots must be at
least 1,000 square feet and must follow local zoning laws. The split could not result in the demolition of any existing housing that has rent restrictions.
“We’ve worked on a lot of policy with regards to increasing supply and the ability to build within the confines of an urban growth area,” Barkis said. “This is a bill that is integral and important to that process.”
Bateman said the bill would be particularly helpful in increasing homeownership opportunities for duplexes, triplexes or fourplexes. Being able to split those lots could bring down the costs significantly for people who want to own a unit in those buildings, she said.
“This is the third year this bill is introduced, and this is going to be the year that we’re going to pass it,” she said.
The proposal received a committee hearing in the
House during the first week of the session. It had support from builders, realtors and housing developers who said it was essential to increasing the number of homes in many areas. It is scheduled for a committee vote on Monday. Incentives to build There’s also a bill to expand tax breaks developers get for building multi-family housing.
Washington’s Multi-Family Housing Property Tax Exemption exempts developers from paying taxes on the construction, conversion or rehabilitation of residential property for eight years. The exemption can be extended to 12 years, if at least 20% of the units are affordable.
Currently, only five of the state’s more heavily populated counties are allowed to offer the exemption.
A proposal from Low would expand the exemption to all counties
that complete comprehensive plans under the Growth Management Act. That would include 28 counties.
In a public hearing last week, the idea drew support from counties and developers who said the exemption could help get more housing up quickly.
“This is a tool that works,” said Anthony Hemstad, who represented Washington Housing Development, LLC. “If you pass this, it will open areas, and more housing truly will be built.”
Bryce Yadon at Futurewise said the organization supports the reasoning behind the bill but had concerns about development in parts of the state that lack infrastructure like roads and transit.
“We don’t want to incentivize the development of more areas that don’t have those amenities if we can,” Yadon said.
G OLDENDALE ’ S A
This week’s Goldendale’s Attic Mystery Picture
A man and his machine.
Or a machine and its man.
What’s the machine? Why is this guy standing next to it? When was this? Where? Why was the picture taken?
What’s the area code for Billings, Montana? Oh, sorry, that question doesn’t belong here. We have no idea about this picture. Do you? All we know is this picture ran in The Sentinel sometime, lost in the annals of yesteryear. If you know anything about it, please send us an email (info@goldendalesentinel.
com), or give us a call (509773-3777), or drop in at the office—and remember, you’re welcome to come in and take a look at the original photograph.
L OOKING BACK
February 18, 1915 – 110 Years Ago
The irrigation District in the Goodnoe Hills voted at a recent meeting to dissolve, the prime reason being difficulty in securing capital to put the project through. The expenses would have been borne by those who would have benefited by the scheme. The project proposed to take water from Three Creeks to the fertile lands of the Goodnoe Hills region, a distance over thirty miles. The expense connected with the building of the canal was considerable and some were inclined to think the benefit would not warrant the outlay. The project is tabled for now at any rate.
February 13, 1940 – 85 Years Ago
Mr. and Mrs. Elmer E. Wilson drove to Portland last Thursday. While there, he attended a special showing of the new International Farmall MD diesel tractors for the Wilson Implement Company. They also saw the just released movie “Gone with the Wind.”
February 11, 1965 – 60 Years Ago
The Goldendale FFA members salvaged approximately 17 tons of barley from the steep slope just a short distance from the top of the Maryhill grade. The barley was dumped when a truck from Montana went off the road bank last week and spilled the contents out onto the slope. The insurance company gave the FFA members permission to salvage the grain and use it in their feeding projects. The high school boys originally started to sack the grain and bring it up to the road by hand. This proved to take more effort than it was worth. So, two tractors, a long cable, and a four-wheel trailer were obtained. The trailer was backed over the side of the road and let down the steep grade to where the grain lay, then loaded and pulled to the top by the tractors.
February 25, 1965 – 60 Years Ago
Biff (belongs to the Crocker family, hence his name is Biff Crocker) was somewhat sadder, if not wiser, last Thursday morning after acquiring something over 200 porcupine quills, in his face as well as around his mouth. Never one to let discretion stand in the way of valor, Biff has been in this condition before, according to his master, Stan Crocker, who says this present example was the result of a 15-minute absence from the barnyard. Biff not only brought back the quills but a defi nite odor of skunk as well. After having his picture taken, he meekly followed Doc Harsch into the vet clinic for the removal operation.
February 27, 1975 – 50 Years Ago
The Burlington Northern Railroad officially opened new transient crew quarters at Wishram on Monday. The new quarters are intended to partially replace the hotel that was damaged beyond repair in March 1973. The new modular units are built on the site of the old hotel. The new facilities contain 16 private motel-style units, a recreation room, card room and laundry. The facility is being operated by Railway Inns, Inc., of Little Rock, Ark.
Points to ponder:
—Richard Lefever Klickitat
County Historical Society
Did you hear about the woman who dyed her hair so often, her passport had a color wheel?
I had an out-of-body experience today. My inner child ran away.
Capitalism is the exploitation of one man by another. Communism is the opposite. Too bad all the people who know how to run this country are busy driving taxis and cutting hair.
What’s the difference between the government and the Mafia? One of them is organized. What’s light, white, and sweet and hangs from trees? A meringue-utan.
A boat carrying red paint crashed into a boat carrying blue paint. Both boats were marooned.
A frog walks into a bank, goes up to the teller, named Patty Black, and says, “I’d like a loan.” Patty Black asks, “Do you have any collateral?” The frog says, “Yes, I have a pink ceramic elephant.” Patty Black goes to the manager’s office and says, “There’s a frog here who wants a loan and only has a pink ceramic elephant for collateral. What should I do?” The manager says, “It’s a knick-knack, Patty Black, but give the frog a loan.”
OpiniOn
Are Chinese forces running the Panama Canal?
The United States spent almost $500 million (roughly equivalent to $15.2 billion in today’s dollars) to finish the Panama Canal project. This was by far the largest American engineering project to date. The canal was formally opened on 15 August, 1914, with the passage of the cargo ship SS Ancon.
The French diplomat and entrepreneur Ferdinand de Lesseps was the driving force behind French attempts to construct a Panama canal (1881–1889). De Lesseps had made his reputation by successfully constructing the Suez Canal (1859–1869), a route which had soon proved its value in international commerce.
The United States acquired the rights to build and operate the Panama Canal during the first years of the 20th century. The Hay-Herrán Treaty, negotiated with the nation of Colombia in 1903, allowed the United States rights to the land surrounding the planned canal.
Building the Panama Canal, 1903–1914, President Theodore Roosevelt oversaw the realization of a long-term United States goal—a trans-isthmian canal. Throughout the 1800s, American and British leaders and businessmen wanted to ship goods quickly and cheaply between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Politically, the canal remained a territory of the United States until 1977, when the Torrijos–Carter Treaties began the process of transferring territorial control of the Panama Canal Zone to Panama, a process which was finally completed on December 31, 1999.
The treaties guaranteed that Panama would gain control of the Panama Canal after 1999, ending the control of the canal that the U.S. had exercised since 1903. The treaties are named after the two signatories, U.S. President Jimmy Carter and the Commander of Panama’s National Guard, General Omar Torrijos.
The Panama Canal was one of the largest public investments of its time. In the first decade of its operation, the Canal produced significant social returns for the United States. Most of these returns were due to the transportation of petroleum from California to the East Coast.
How profitable is the Panama Canal?
In 2024, the canal’s revenue stood at nearly $5 billion, which represents about 4 percent of Panama’s GDP.
The net present economic value of the canal to the world is estimated to be of the order of $6 billion, and the value to the United States is approximately $1.6 billion.
Why did the U.S. give back the Panama Canal?
Following riots by Panamanians protesting U.S. control of the canal in 1964, the United States and Panama renegotiated the treaty, and in September 1977 President Carter and Panamanian leader Torrijos Herrera signed two treaties.
President Trump believes treaties made between
THE GOLDENDALE SENTINEL
Official newspaper of Klickitat County, Washington
Established 1879 • Published every Wednesday from offices at 117 W. Main Street • Goldendale, WA 98620 • Telephone: (509) 773-3777
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the United States and Panama have been broken with China’s growing involvement in the canal. The President has declared that we gave the canal to Panama and not to China. China has denied that it is in any way controlling the Canal.
“The accusations that China is running the canal are unfounded,” Ricaurte Vasquez Moralez, the head of the Panama Canal Authority, recently told the Wall Street Journal
Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino has also denied the presence of Chinese forces. “There are no Chinese soldiers in the canal, for the love of God,” he said in December 2024.
Yes, it would be nice if we owned and controlled the Panama Canal. We did, and we gave it up. There is probably a better chance of people in hell getting ice water than us getting the canal back. However, I would never count our President out at this stage of the deal.
Burn-out has got to go
The Festival of Wheels gave it another try this year. It seems the attendance has dwindled to much lower levels than when the event was new, 10 years ago. There are a lot of competing car shows this time of year, so it doesn’t surprise me . This year Goldendale Motorsports Association and ABATE brought back the burn-out, which was tried several times in the past with questionable benefits to the town. This year someone had the brilliant idea to use the old skateboard park as a place to stage the return of the burnout. It was held on the concrete slab, a tempting medium for anyone inclined to bum rubber. Rednecks of many degrees, punk kids or maybe the little old lady from Pasadena. I personally was left with a bad taste in my mouth and lungs. Even though I made it a point to stay away from the burn-out and was at my home where I thought I would escape the noise and smoke, when the toxic cloud rose from the park and drifted over the Little Klickitat River Park (the swimming pool) on to the kids and families at the pool and on to me while I was sitting on my property. We were contaminated by the toxins in the smoke, and my eyes and throat were imitated, and my lungs filled with carbon monoxide and other cancer causing toxic compounds
for three hours. I think the city of Goldendale needs to rethink supporting burnouts in our park. Next year don’t issue a permit to any group that wants to burn-out. There are places in the county where it could be held, just not in the city please. I hate toxic smoke, and you should too.
On Sept 4 I will be asking the mayor and his administration to make an ordinance forbidding anyone from reckless unsafe burnouts in any ones neighborhood or any street in the Goldendale city limits. I would appreciate some support from like-minded citizens at the council meeting. Let them know how you feel.
I contacted the bank for an explanation. The answer was essentially that “we wouldn’t do that.” Then why is it in your documents, I asked. The answer was to send me up the chain of command. The second person gave the same answer as the first and then was to have me contacted by some-one higher up. That person has not contacted me after more than a week so I am following through on what I told the bank contacts I was going to do—write a letter to the editor to be sure local folks are aware of how Columbia Bank is choosing to deal with its account holders.
Warms my heart
I was catching up on the news when I read the January 29 article about our new jail system and the spotlight on the newly appointed Klickitat County Jail Administrator Bill Frantz. It truly warmed my heart.
Reading that he knows that simply listening helps build genuine connections and supports inmates more effectively gives me hope for meaningful change. His focus on using positive reinforcement and understanding each person as an individual brings a much-needed, human-centered approach to our jail system. It’s inspiring to see someone committed to adjusting practices to fit individual needs rather than a one-size-fits-all mentality. This kind of leadership challenges us to rethink and recreate systems that truly support growth and rehabilitation.
Ken McKune Goldendale
C
ing individuals in rebuilding their lives. It’s concerning to learn that the department is dangerously overloaded, with only four staff members managing a critical workload. This not only puts undue stress on our probation officers but also threatens the stability and safety of our community.
I recently received an updated “Terms for Business and Deposit Account Agreement” from Columbia Bank. I am not in the habit of reading the fine print but for some reason this time I did. I came across an “added” line that I found very concerning. Again, this line is both for personal and business accounts. It reads: “We may refuse to open and account and may close your account at any time for any reason or for no reason at all.”
“For No Reason At All” I particularly found offensive.
I am equally encouraged by his dedication to his team—placing priority on staff feeling valued, fostering connections among colleagues, and investing in their professional development. It speaks to a leadership style that empowers others and builds community from the inside out. I am excited to see how his leadership and these thoughtful practices will impact our community. It feels like a step in the right direction, so thank you again for highlighting one of our newest community members!
However, more recently I also read about the urgent challenges facing our probation department, which play a vital role in keeping our community safe and support-
My concern is that a comment as broad as this opens the door for abuse. I have had no difficulties with our local branch and am sorry that the headquarters has decided to take such a hard line. It ap-pears I will need to look for a bank that does not behave in this manner.
Letters from the community
is siding with a brutal dictator bent on conquest.
Ken Margraf Goldendale
To truly create a justice system that promotes growth, rehabilitation, and community safety, we must ensure that all parts of the system are adequately supported. The positive changes at the jail are inspiring, and I am hopeful they can be mirrored in our probation department with the right resources and leadership.
Heartfelt appreciation goes to the county commissioners for the wise hiring decision of Bill Frantz and to the county HR department for their hard work in creating this new role and department with purpose and vision. It’s clear that the foundation for something positive is being laid. I urge the county commissioners to continue this momentum by making the right decision for our probation department. By providing the necessary support and resources, we can ensure that all parts of our justice system work together to build a safer and stronger community.
Sasha Bentley White Salmon
We’ve become villains
It must be difficult to have voted for Donald Trump only to learn that within a month of taking office, he
Since Russia invaded the free, independent, and democratic nation of Ukraine, the Russian military has deliberately attacked civilian targets such as schools and hospitals; indiscriminately bombed densely populated areas; abducted, tortured, and murdered civilians; forced deportations; abducted thousands of children; committed sexual violence; and killed and tortured Ukrainian prisoners of war. In Bucha, Russians murdered hundreds of civilians, many with a single shot to the back of the head. Drone video verified by The New York Times showed two Russian armored vehicles firing at a civilian walking a bicycle. Later video footage showed the same man, lying dead next to the bicycle. BBC News reported tied bodies of civilians at a temple, run over by a tank (multiple sources, summarized in Wikipedia)
It must feel terrible to have voted for a President who’s giving Vladimir Putin everything he wants and parroting all his propaganda. Trump blames Ukraine for being attacked!
At the same time, our President repeatedly threatens to conquer Canada and Greenland. Understandably, Canadians are booing us at sports events and boycotting our products. We’re supposed to be their friends!
We’ve become villains on the world stage.
Rick George White Salmon
HOMETOWN
Sorry about the typos
WAGAPoffersinterpretertrainingandresources
TAMARAKAUFMAN
FORTHESENTINEL
WashingtonGorgeAction Programs (WAGAP) has launched a comprehensive newinitiativeoffering support and resources to strengthencommunication, collaboration and connections within the community
ItsnewCommunityConnectionsprogramiskicking off by offering interpreter best practices training,an interpreter headset rental program,andimmigration resources
able
Keyfeaturesofthetraininginclude:
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regardlessof thelanguage theyspeak
watch that championship game
Mortifiedisthebest way to describe my reaction when I discover a typo in the Glenwood News after it’spublished Lastsummer I referred to high school rodeo cowboy Blake Masden as Blake Shelton Oh, mygoodness Ithinkhegot a kick out of that In last week’s column I referred to the Klickitat/Glenwood (Klickwood) boys basketball team coach Dion CurtisasDionSanders Iwant toapologizetoDionandthe team for that latest silly error At least it sounds likeweknowsomefamous celebritiesaroundhereand it’salittlefunny,butitcertainly is embarrassing I proofreadthecolumntwice (ataminimum)beforesendingitin,buttheseerrorsdo getbymefromtimetotime
We are sorry to hear of the passing of long-ago Glenwood resident Russel Odle of Snowden, Washington Russel was raised here in Glenwood by his parents,EarlandIdaOdle
He loved his horses, and I think he even did a little rodeoing back in the day Hestillloved toattend the annual Glenwood rodeo whenhewasable Heleaves behind his brother Dave, son Marty, several grandchildren, and manyfriends
Glenwood News
ThelasttimeIsaw Russel, before his illness was at the White Salmon SeniorCenterlunchlast summer Oh,mygoodness, Iwasamazed asweremost of us there, to see Russel andhissweetdancepartner outdancing everyone else thereasabandplayedgreat music Thoselight-on-their feet dancers two-stepped around the dance floor to everysinglesongtheband playedanddidn’tevenseem togetwornoutlikemostof the other elderly dancers there Itwasveryentertainingandfuntoseethesheer joyonhisfacethatday
There will be no service forRussel Ourcondolences gotohisfamilyandfriends forthelossofagreatfriend Hewillbegreatlymissed Last Saturday evening, February22,alargecrowd of supporters from Trout Lake Glenwood and surroundingareasshowed up at The Dalles High School gym to support the Trout Lake Mustangs girls as theyplayedSouthWascoin the District championship game It was a close and excitinggame So proud of ourGlenwoodgirls,Emma Patterson and Jayla Avila, who contributed so much to the team allseason All theotherMustangsplayers out there also played very hardandwell Despitehav-
ingtwokeyplayersoutwith injuries, they really came on strong Now it’s on to StatefortheMustangs,and we willallbe cheeringfor themfrom afar if wecant bethereinperson I’mvery happythatGlenwoodsenior Jayla Avila will be traveling to State to play her last high school basketball games GoodluckinBaker City,Mustangs After the first and second place trophies were awarded to the teams, the BigSkyAllLeagueawards were announced It was great to see Kinsley Lanz receive Honorable Mention and Emma Patterson receive All League First Team recognition And the best award of all not only was Violet Anderson named to the All League First Team, she was also named Player of the Year for the League Oh my gosh,weinthestandswent wild, and it was so heartwarmingtoseeVioletrunning up into the stands to hug her mama grandpa, and otherfamily members there Whatawell-deserved award So proud of all the girls Wedidntstayforthe awards at the end of the boys’championship game becausewe’re oldpeopleanditwas getting late, but I waspleasedtolearn that Talon Cabral and Owen Spino of theKlickwoodteam receivedBigSkyAll LeagueHonorableMention recognition
“Thisinitiativeisrooted in WAGAP’s commitment to equity and inclusion It provides practicaltoolsfor organizations and groups to build stronger relationshipsandensureeveryone feelswelcomedand understood,” saidSashaBentley, WAGAP’sdirectorofequity andinclusion
The workshop for Interpreter Best Practices is focused on empowering effective communication This interactive training provides strategiesfor working effectively with interpretersacrossvarious settings includinghealthcare,education,community services,andbusinessenvironments On-siteorvirtual trainingoptionsareavail-
“Alotofthetime,wetalk abouttrainingforinterpreters,butrarelyforthepeople working with interpretation needs and services” said Juan Reyes,associate director at WAGAP “By buildingskillslikecommunication and empathy, we canensurethatinterpreted conversationsareimpactful andinclusive”
WAGAP’s new Interpreter Headset Rental Program aims to simplify language access The goal isto provideorganizations witheasyaccesstoreliable, user-friendly equipment forliveinterpretation This service supports inclusivityandensuresthatevents, meetings, and gatherings areaccessibletoeveryone,
As part of the program, high-quality headsets will be available for seamless live interpretation The overall goal is to provide non-native speakers with support to participate in events held in English Organizations will receive guidanceon how toset up theheadsetssotheirinterpreter can interact with those who need language assistance
Reyesaddedthattheprogramisidealfornonprofits, schools,healthcareproviders, businesses, publicservice agencies, and other communitygroupsseeking toenhancecommunication and inclusion He said the rentaloptions willinclude flexible scheduling with affordablerentalrates
WAGAP is also expanding its efforts to support immigrant individuals and families by providing
resourcesthataddresscommon challenges related to legal assistance, language access,andcommunityconnections
“These resources aim to equip immigrants with the information and support they need to navigate essentialservicesandfeela senseofbelonging,”Bentley said Itispartofanoverall WAGAPgoaltocollaborate with community members to ensure resources are accessibleandmeaningful CommunityConnections ismadepossiblethrougha grantprovidedbytheInatai Foundation and isaccessible online at wwwwagap org/community-connections For more informationoninterpretertraining or headset rentals contact Reyes at juan@wagaporg Formoreinformationabout upcomingcommunitysupport and resources or to givefeedback,contactBentleyatsasha@wagaporg
GoldendaleSchoolDistrict educatorsnominatedforaward
Goldendale High School nated anonymouslyfor her The program has awarded teachers Timothy Lucas, commitmenttohelpingstu- over$790,000incashprizes Laura Thayer and Andrea dents engage deeply with towinnersandtheirschools Pearcehavebeennominated readingand critical think- formakingasignificantdiffer National Life Group’s ing She meets students ference in the lives of stu2024-25LifeChanger of the wheretheyare,encouraging dentsbyexemplifyingexcelYear award Sponsored by themtolearn grow andset lence positiveinfluence and the National Life Group meaningful goalsfor their leadership Foundation, LifeChanger futures of the Year recognizesand
Each school year,
toanomineeinaspecific disciplineeachyear The winnerwillreceive$5000 to be shared with their schoolordistrict Winnersarechosen bya selection committee comprised of former winners andeducationprofessionals and will be announced in early 2025 Nominees must be K-12 teachers or school district employees To be considered for an award, nomineesmust Makeapositiveimpacton thelivesofstudents
natedanonymouslyfor her (1) GrandPrize Winnerwill receive$10,000tobe sharedwiththeirschool/ district
Mary Pierce willreceive$5,000tobe
In other exciting news about two great athletes in another winter sport, Glenwood High School student-athletes Ty MurrayandBlaineArnold had great successes as they competed in the 2025West Coast VintageSnowmobile Ice Oval Championships in Priest Lake Idaho on February15and16 I’m so pleased to share the news that Blaine, a Glenwood freshman, made it to two championshiprounds placing1stand3rdinhisfinals, earninghisfirstcheckered flag His cousin Ty, a senior, fought hard and made it into one championship round securinga3rdplace finish Great job, boys All of us here in Glenwood are very proud of you Go, Eagles
For those whose yards havenowturnedintolakes due to the rain that began last Saturday, let’s hope thewaterrecedessoon IfI hadakayak,Icouldpaddle around our big yard right now But we’ll get through this, as we all do, no matterwhatweathercomesour wayinGlenwood
Sheisdedicatedtoensur- LifeChanger of the Year rewards the best K-12 edu- ing that every student dis- receiveshundredsof nomicators and school district coverswhatmatterstothem, nations from all 50 states employeesacrosstheUnited guiding them toward their and the District of ColumStateswhoaremakingadif- aspirationswithpassionand bia Seventeen individual ference in the lives of stu- care,”saidhernominator LifeChanger of the Year dentsbyexemplifyingexcel- Pearce, a special educa- awardswillbegivenduring lence,positiveinfluence,and tion teacher, was nomi- the2024-2025schoolyear leadership Lucas, an English lan- workpreparingstudentsfor guage arts/journalism lifebeyondhighschool She teacher, was nominated equipsherstudentswiththe anonymously for his dedi- toolsthey need tosucceed • (4) Grand Prize Finalists cation to helping students while also helping them find their voices His pas- recognize their strengths sharedwiththeirschool/ district
Regardlessoftheirchal-
• (10) LifeChanger Award Winners - will receive $3,000 to be shared with theirschool/district
“The revival of Golden- toembracetheirfuturewith • (1) Spirit Award Winner -This award is given to the nominee whose community demonstratesthe most support for their nomination The winner will receive $5,000 to be sharedwiththeirschool/ K-12 teachers, administra- district
AboutLifeChanger oftheYear Since2011,LifeChangerof
sionledtotherevivalofthe andself-worth school newspaper at GoldendaleHighSchool, giving lenges, Ms Pearceensures studentsaplatformforself- thateachstudentseestheir expressionandexploration potential,empoweringthem dale High School’s news- confidence,” said her nomipaper marks an exciting nator new chapter of growth and explorationforstudentsand the community Thanks to Lucas, the Timberwolf theYearhasrecognizedand Times has endless poten- rewarded more than 8,500 tial,”saidhisnominator
Thayer,anEnglish/social tors, and schoolemployees • (1)Spotlight Award Winstudies teacher, was nomi- in 2,300+ school districts ner-Thisawardisgiven
DENTISTRY
Enhance their school or district’s atmosphere, culture,andpride Demonstrate exemplary leadershipattheschooland/ ordistrictlevel Possessaprovenrecordof professionalexcellence Show commitment to buildinga nurturingenvironment that supports learning
Adhere to the highest moralandethicalstandards
A resource page with ideas for how to celebrate nominees can be found at lifechangeroftheyear com/showspirit If you’re interested in nominating someone from your school community, visit www LifeChangeroftheYearcom
O BITUA RIES
Dick Wilson died Sunday, February 16, 2025 with his wife Delma by his side. He was 100 years old.
Harry Richard (Dick) Wilson was born in Klickitat, Washington, on January 2, 1925, to Harry Otis and Marie Jane (Adams) Wilson. He joined two older sisters, Velma and Betty. When he was three, the family moved to Bickleton where Harry managed the Farmers Mercantile Company. This is where young Dick grew up and received his early education.
One memorable tale during this time was that he and Keith Jensen acquired a Ford model A and proceeded to get it to run on diesel, which made quite a smoke show, it was told.
He graduated early from Bickleton High School and in early 1943 at the age of 17 joined the United States Navy where he served in the Pacific on the USS Satterley during World War II . He served for three years, three months, and eight days as a Radar Electronics Technician’s Mate, a rating that would also qualify him as a general electrician. He then went on to receive his degree in Business Administration from Washington State College, graduating in 1949.
After completing his degree, he returned home hoping to work with his father who had by then established H. O. Wilson Company. Harry couldn’t afford to hire him, so he had to make his own way.
Dick began selling and trading farm equipment and machinery on commission. The rest is history. He met with farmers and ranchers from Goldendale to Horse Heaven and beyond. He had a cup of coffee at many a kitchen table. It wasn’t too long till Harry put him on the payroll.
Riley Jessamine Perry, 26 years old, passed away on December 29, 2024. She was born on September 10, 1998, in Tucson, Arizona, to Anthony Perry and Ilya J. (Adams) Perry. She moved to Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, with her parents in 2005 where she lived for five years. The family then moved to Walla Walla, Washington, for two years, and next settled in Lyle where Riley continued home schooling. She was loved 4H and going to fairs, winning many awards for her accomplishments. Riley was competitive in archery and enjoyed playing guitar accompanied by her beautiful voice. She attended Camp Morrow where she learned horsemanship and became
In 1951, he and fellow Bickletonian Ranald Ferguson traveled the Pan-American Highway throughout South America, sponsored by the International Harvester Company. After a lengthy 9,500-mile tour they sold the IH truck for a couple of plane tickets and flew home to the United States.
In the fall of both ’53 and ’54, he and Ranald, along with Bickletonians Hap Godfredson and Dick Kessinger, returned to Mexico for the Mexican Road Races where he was a mechanic for the Lincoln pit crew.
Dick also climbed Mount Rainier around this time.
On June 28, 1958, he married Delma Louise Allbritton at the Bickleton Presbyterian Church. By this time Dick was an integral part of H. O. Wilson Company. Delma’s family raised cattle and farmed. This led to the purchase of their own ranch just north of Bickleton in 1963 where they ran a modest cattle herd, farmed, and had their bustling home of five Wilson boys: Karl Gregory, David Alan, Thomas Dempster, Lewis Cory, and Clayton Ellis.
The cattle were eventually sold off as they focused on growing their business to serve the ranch and farming community in Bickleton and the surrounding area. Dick was a dealer for International Harvester, Calkins, and many other brands. Over the years services provided included machinery and truck sales, fertilizer sales and application, bulk fuel delivery, farm chemical sales, water pump service, grain bin sales and installation,
Dick Wilson
electrical work, hardware and household goods sales, and mostly friendly advice.
As his sons grew up, Dick mentored them into the work of the ranch and the store. They learned to weld, wire, plumb, operate equipment, and many other skills at an early age. He also bought a boat so the young family could enjoy water skiing, and he enjoyed snow skiing as well.
One of Greg’s landmark memories was Dick showing him how to farm with the TD-9 crawler and disc and then bring left to complete the job solo. Greg was 11 years old.
Another project was building a cabin on White Pass with good friend and brother-in-law Dale Johnson, sister Velma’s husband. The basic building was built by contractor and friend Paul Rupp. The wiring, plumbing, and a variety of other tasks were performed by family, supervised by Dick. On many weekends in ’77 and ’78, Dick, the boys, Dale, and sometimes Delma and Velma would make the trip to Wildcat Creek to work on the cabin. The family has many fond memories of building and maintaining the cabin, skiing at White Pass, hiking around the area and playing board games late into the night.
Dick was a communityminded man. A member of the International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Lodge, he ran through the chairs, served as secretary, and was sexton for the IOOF Cemetery north of town for several years. He secretly purchased a few extra lots there to be used for individuals whose families
Riley Jessamine Perry
a camp wrangler and counselor.
After high school graduation, Riley attended Columbia Gorge Community College and Walla Walla Community College where she graduated in 2016 with associate degrees in Animal Sciences and Agriculture Business, with high honors. After college she worked as a wrangler and trail guide in Colorado then moved to Ellensburg where she was employed at various businesses before earning her commercial driver’s license in Yakima, Washington. Her work driving for a trucking
company led her to start her own business, Jess Express. Riley loved being on the road, high above other vehicles, with her dog, Boone. Other drivers were impressed by her ability to drive and handle all aspects of the job as she was just 5 feet 5 inches tall (and ¾, as she would always be sure to add). Her love for animals prompted her to rescue creatures she encountered in her travels (a dog, a kitten, and a rabbit) and caring for them or finding them homes. Those who knew Riley appreciated her willingness to jump in to help out if someone
could not afford to buy a lot.
He was also very involved in the Alder Creek Pioneer Picnic and Rodeo. For decades he volunteered as electrician, water system maintainer, and vendor procurer, among all the other things you do as a volunteer in a small community.
Dick, along with many others, was instrumental in maintaining a thriving community in Bickleton, providing funds or equipment or labor to keep businesses and organizations running. Once, when the local café needed to relocate because the tenants couldn’t afford the repairs on a septic system, 22 Bickletonians including Dick and good friend Tom Juris co-signed a bank note procuring funds to purchase and renovate a different building for the tenants to operate.
The H. O. Wilson Company served the community of Bickleton and many other residents of Klickitat, Yakima, and Benton counties and had a reputation far and wide. You just had to wander in and ask; if he didn’t have it right there, he would order it in. Over the 77 years of the family business, he trained and employed many people, with many tales to tell.
In his semi-retirement, he kept his community spirit alive by continuing to be the extra hand needed when called upon. Blessed with good health, a loving family, and a positive spirit that makes life worth living, he continued to be active in many organizations including the Alder Creek Pioneer Association, the Odd Fellows Lodge, and the Alder Creek Grange, to name a few. Dick and Delma frequented
needed a hand and to take on challenging situations with a positive attitude.
Riley enjoyed being outdoors, camping, 4-wheeling in her pickup, riding her motorcycle, or on horseback with friends or her brothers. She made some of her own clothing and enjoyed cooking and finding creative ways to eat a healthy diet while on the road.
Riley is survived by her parents, her brothers Quinn N. and Xander B. Perry, and grandmother Deanna M. Bland.
A Celebration of Life will be held March 15 at Church of the Nazarene, 124 W Allen, Goldendale, at 1 p.m. Please come and share your memories and a meal with us.
Church Directory
GRACE BRETHREN
BAPTIST
& Children's groups Wed 6pm; ColumbusABC.org, YouTube, FaceBook. ColumbusABC@embarqmail.com
CATHOLIC - Holy Trinity Catholic 307 Schuster, Goldendale; Father William Byron, 509.773.4516. Sat Eve Mass 5:30pm; Sun Mass 9am & 10:30am. Eve of Holy Days 7pm; Holy Days 9am. Daily Mass Mon-Fri 9am CCD Classes Wed 2:15-3:30pm, K thru grade 6; Wed 7-8:30pm grades 7-12. Confessions every other Saturday noon -1pm
EASTERN ORTHODOX
Ss. Joachim & Anna Orthodox Mission
301 NW 2nd St, Goldendale, 907-317-3828; Rev John Phelps; Sat: 5:30pm Vespers; Sun: 8:15am Orthros, 9:30am Liturgy; Wed: 7pm Youth Group; Fri: 9pm Compline.
Community Grace Brethren 1180 S Roosevelt, Goldendale. Pastor Aaron Wirick. 509.773.3388. Sun Service 10:30am in person. Wed: AWANA 2pm. Youth Group 6pm8pm GoldendaleGrace.com. Watch us on Facebook Live: Facebook.com/GoldendaleGrace "Learning - Living - Loving JESUS."
LUTHERAN
Christ the King Lutheran S Columbus & Simcoe Dr, Goldendale; Vicar Ann Adams. 509.773.5750. Worship services 10am Everyone welcome.
METHODIST - United Methodist Columbus & Broadway, Goldendale; Pastors Rob Blevins and Larry Gourley; 509.773.4461.
Service times: Worship 9:30 ; Adult classes 10:45am; Fall & Winter All are welcome. Call the church for regularly scheduled events.
NAZARENE - Church of the Nazarene 124 W Allyn, Goldendale; Pastor Earnie Winn and Pastor Greta Sines. 509.773.4216; Sunday worship 10:45 ; Sunday School all ages 9:30 goldendalenaz@gmail.com
the Market Street Café run by Jennifer Wilson, wife of son Greg. They enjoyed rolling for coffee and tips, a good game of cribbage or pinochle, and working on the community jigsaw puzzle.
In 2012, Dick received the OP Kreps Award from the Klickitat County Cattlemen Association, an honor for being a reliable vendor and proponent of the local cattle industry. Also in 2012, Dick was president of the Alder Creek Pioneer Association.
In 2022 he and Delma sold their home and 360acre ranch north of town to grandson Jamison Wilson and his wife Chelsea. They built a new home in Bickleton just south of the Grange Hall and moved in on November 11, 2023. They were now “townies.”
Dick was the recipient of an Honorary membership in The American Legion, Louie Leidl Post No. 116 in Goldendale.
In 2024 he and Tom Juris each received a quilt from the Quilts of Valor Foundation at the Alder Creek Pioneer Picnic Morning Program. The quilts were handmade by volunteers in the TriCities and intended to show appreciation for each veteran’s service and sacrifice by giving them something tangible to hold on to.
Dick was the last living veteran of World War II in
Klickitat County.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Harry O and Marie Wilson (she lived to 103 ½); sisters Betty (Jack) Johnson (Allen) Poole and Velma (Dale) Johnson (she lived to 105); and good friend Tom Juris just a few days prior.
Dick is survived by Delma Wilson, his wife of 66 years; five sons: Greg Wilson with wife Jennifer, David Wilson with wife Joanne, Tom Wilson with wife Amy, Cory Wilson, and Clay Wilson with wife Susan; five grandsons: Jamison Wilson with wife Chelsea, Walter Wilson, Kip Wilson, Dylan Wilson, and Nolan Wilson; four granddaughters: Kelli Wilson with husband Nick Kinney, Ella Wilson, Nora Wilson, Mackenzie Wilson; and a few cousins, many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Memorial Donations can be made to the Alder Creek Pioneer Association, PO Box 116, Bickleton WA 99322 or any charitable organization of your choice.
A Funeral Service will be held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 10 a.m. at the Bickleton Evangelical Community Church in Bickleton with burial to follow at I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Bickleton. Those wishing to sign Dick’s online memorial guest book may do so at www. funeralhomesmith.com.
Smith Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.
NEW LIFE ASSEMBLY of GOD 1602 S Columbus, Goldendale; Pastor Kevin Gerchak, 509.773.4650; Sun. School 9:30 ; Morning Worship Service 10:30am; Family Night on Wed. 7pm with programs for ages 3 years through adult.
RIVER of LIFE CHURCH of GOD 2023 Pipeline Rd, Goldendale; Pastors Rod & Cathy Smith, 509-250-0222,
10am "Find refreshment for your
Father’s House Fellowship 207 S Klickitat Ave, 509.773.4719. Basic Bible Fellowship 9:30am; Worship 10:30am; Tue. 6:30pm Freedom Now Meeting. FHF1880@outlook.com “A Gospel-Centered Church.”
What’s in the Sky?
E XTRA
SCHOOL from page A1
schools based on student reading achievement, and bonuses dispersed to teachers who contributed to helping students meet those standards. Some schools would also receive grants to hire reading coaches.
The bill also requires third graders to pass a statewide standardized test, pass an alternative assessment or provide a portfolio that proves “sufficient third grade reading skills” or be held back a year.
National Board bonuses for teachers were implemented to encourage teachers to improve their skills, which leads to higher quality education, and studies show holding back students who don’t meet grade level objectives hinders student performance.
student body.”
Studies tend to support Koon’s view. Student performance is often influenced by things beyond a teacher’s control, like poverty, learning disabilities, unstable homes and poor nutrition, research shows.
students were chronically absent last year, so she is teaching about two-thirds of the curriculum she did 15 years ago.
JIM WHITE FOR THE SENTINEL
Welcome to March!
As I write this in midFebruary, it sure does not look much like spring here in wintery Trout Lake. But I know change is coming as the season inevitably progresses. March 20 will mark the vernal equinox, the spring date when day and night are roughly equal. Around that time, the increase in day length is at its greatest, over 3 minutes a day. Rates of change are greatest around the equinoxes (1st day of spring and 1st day of fall), and the slowest around the solstices (1st day of summer and winter).
Add in the start of daylight savings time (March 9) and it can increase the perception of change. We go from a sunset time of 6:02 p.m. on March 8 to 7:04 p.m. on March 9.
The big event for March this year is a total Lunar Eclipse, which will occur on the night of March 13-14. On that night, the Earth will slide right between the Moon and the Sun, causing the Moon to darken, sometimes into a striking reddish color. It will be a late-night affair, with the eclipse starting at about 9 p.m. Totality will occur from about 11:30 p.m. to about 12:30 a.m. Let’s hope for clear skies!
Why does the Moon appear reddish at times during a total Lunar Eclipse? You can thank Earth’s atmosphere for that. Even though the Earth blocks sunlight from hitting the Moon directly during totality, sunlight fi ltering through Earth’s atmosphere is bent and partly illuminates the Moon. Most of the light rays are scattered in Earth’s atmosphere, but the longer, red wavelengths are not as scattered and reach the Moon, giving it the red color. The same principle applies to our reddish sunrises and sunsets. A total Lunar Eclipse is defi nitely worth viewing!
A great place to see the eclipse will be the Goldendale Observatory. Our iconic Washington State Park will be open from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Check out the “Special Events” link on the Observatory’s web page (www. goldendaleobservatory. com) for details. We still have some nice planetary views in March. Jupiter is still nicely visible in the southwestern sky, and Mars rides high in the south. Venus is a bright beacon, low in the west after sunset. Mercury joins Venus in the western sky in early March, a great time to spot the solar system’s innermost planet. If skies are clear on March 1, a very nice view will occur low in the west after sunset. Venus will shine bright, with a bright Mercury below it, and the young, thin crescent Moon between them.
Mars, while visible in the southern sky, is growing more distant from us. Located in the constellation Gemini, it will outshine that constellation’s two bright stars, Castor and Pollux.
The Moon starts March low in the west between Venus and Mercury, as previously mentioned. On the 5th the nearly firstquarter Moon will be between Jupiter and the Pleiades. On the 8th the waxing gibbous Moon will be just to the left of Mars. On the 11th the nearly full Moon will be just above the bright star Regulus in Leo.
The bright winter constellations of Orion, Taurus, and Gemini will be low in the western sky in March. Leo the Lion rides high in the southeast, to the left of Gemini and Mars. In the east, Bootes the sheepherder, with its bright star Arcturus, is low in the sky after sunset. In the northeast, an upsidedown Big Dipper (part of Ursa major) is above the Little Dipper (Ursa minor) and Polaris, the north star. Enjoy the night skies of
“Once you hit third grade,” Stokesbary explained, “more and more of your education becomes increasingly self-directed. If you can’t read at grade level – in third grade – you’re not going to be able to read your social studies textbook or your science textbook.”
Educators and Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) officials couldn’t disagree more.
SIELER
from page A1 through Goldendale as a kid.” His career took him across the region, from a wind farm on Highway 97 to Hood River and eventually to Portland, and he bought a home across the river in Vancouver. However, the call of a quieter life ultimately brought his family back east. “My wife really wanted a slower pace, kind of a smaller community. We’d bought land in High Prairie, and that’s right around the time we started the business. We loved Goldendale and decided to fully commit to moving here.”
The Sielers have now been living in Goldendale full-time for 14 months. The transition was years in the making, with the home inspection business starting in January 2022 while still living in Vancouver. “We built the business knowing we wanted to move back out to the Gorge,” Sieler recalls. Starting a business while preparing for relocation came with significant difficulties. “In the beginning,
FENTANYL from page A1 dealing with isolated incidents,” explained Lembke. “The ripple effects of this crisis impact families, neighborhoods, and the overall fabric of our society. Every overdose is a tragedy, and every loss is a stark reminder of how crucial it is to address this problem from every angle.” Indeed, the rise in fentanyl-related incidents has prompted local governments and health departments to adopt more aggressive stances. Numerous community outreach programs have been established to distribute naloxone kits, offer training on overdose response, and provide support for those battling addiction. “Community-based initiatives have shown promise in curbing overdose deaths,” said Wilkins. “But these programs need more resources and broader support to be truly effective.”
Policy implications and the road ahead Legislators are taking
“With adequate resources, schools can provide additional support and interventions to students without holding them back a grade,” said OSPI’s Chief Policy and Legislative Affairs Officer Jenny Plaja.
She added funding tied to student achievement would help higher-performing schools only and punish the under-resourced schools.
Koon agrees. She called the bill “destructive.”
“[HB 1832] will very likely result in better math and reading test scores,” she said, “and a less educated, less prepared-for-the-world
it was a lot [of work],” he states. “I had pretty much taken a leap and quit my new management job in the crane industry, and we were trying to run a business with my family depending on me. We had to live off that business, so I was working 24/7, and my wife was working constantly on the website to support me.” The early stages involved extensive travel, with Sieler covering vast distances to meet demand. “I ended up putting like 40,000 miles on my truck for the first couple of years because I was constantly driving between Goldendale and Portland and Hood River, wherever inspections were needed, just rapidly meeting demand, doing a good job so people would refer me.” Now that business has stabilized in the Gorge area, Sieler finds a better balance. “It’s pretty much been my life for the past three years, and I’m finally getting to a point where I can maybe take a day off.”
After establishing him-
note. Public health experts argue that addressing the fentanyl crisis is not solely a medical challenge—it is also a policy imperative. “We must consider stricter regu-
Teaching to the test, as it is commonly known, tends to narrow learning to test prep questions at the expense of broader explorations.
A bill from the Republican side of the aisle getting support is SB 5007, sponsored by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia. It provides funding to help reduce chronic absenteeism, defined as those who miss more than 10% of school days, excused or unexcused.
Districts with low student performance often have high percentages of chronic absenteeism, OSPI studies show.
In Koon’s Mount Baker School District, 37.4% of
self in the area, Sieler was encouraged to run for a seat on the Chamber board, and he secured his position in the October-November elections. Now, he’s embracing the opportunity to contribute to the local business community.
“It’s been fun,” he says.
“It’s been cool seeing the inner workings of the Chamber and just getting to know Goldendale more as a business owner in the community. I’m trying to do things that would help business in the area.”
Sieler observed the potential of business in the Goldendale area upon first joining the Chamber, emphasizing the foundational needs of population and skilled workers. “Obviously we’re growing,” he observes. “A lot of people are moving here from the cities, making Goldendale a little more well known, and we need quality contractors out here. The business is there; we just need qualified people to do the work.”
lations on the production and distribution of synthetic opioids,” urged Volkow. “But beyond enforcement, we need to invest in prevention and treatment. This means
“I just can’t move fast enough,” she said. “How do you keep up when these 10 kids are absent yesterday and a different 10 kids are absent tomorrow?”
Ultimately, Koon said student performance will improve if adequate resources are dedicated to classroom instruction. Koon recalled teaching a class of 28 students who all needed individualized instruction because of learning disabilities and all but three met the state performance standard at the time. The difference between now and then? That classroom, she said, had two certificated teachers – herself included – and three “top-notch” paraeducators.
What started in Vancouver has now become a business firmly rooted in the Goldendale area. “About 85-90% of our business is in the Gorge, between Hood River and White Salmon and The Dalles and Goldendale,” Sieler states. “I do quite a bit of work in Goldendale. I love staying local and helping people out with their houses.” Beyond standard home inspections, High Prairie Home Inspections has expanded its services to include sewer scope inspections, air sampling, and radon testing. This diversification has exceeded Sieler’s initial expectations. “I originally didn’t think Goldendale would be able to support this, but with the mix of Goldendale having so many people moving here, and then also the Gorge being so popular, I’ve been able to stay busy,” he says. “It’s been a super good move.”
allocating more funding for addiction research, supporting community outreach programs, and ensuring that every individual has access to the care they need.”
Check It Out
Beth Wood, Collection Librarian
Fort Vancouver Regional Library District
You can email Beth at readingforfun@fvrl.org
(Family Features) A cozy morning at home sharing a delicious breakfast – for many families, it’s a picture of perfection.
Whether your brunch favorites include pastries and pancakes or fruits and French toast, enjoying a meal together is a heartwarming way to start the day.
Now, you can savor all your favorite flavors inspired by wish kids. These Bananas Foster French Toast and Peanut Butter and Apple breakfast recipes are made with the freshness and irresistibly soft texture of Butterbread from Nature’s Own, which partnered with Make-AWish on a $500,000 donation to highlight and support wish kids through 2026.
Since 1980, the global nonprofit has granted more than 375,000 wishes in the U.S. to children with critical illnesses, helping them build the strength and hope needed to fight their illnesses. Granted wishes can be life-changing, bringing a sense of normalcy to families that can impact entire communities.
To celebrate the partnership, the Slice of Hope Campaign was launched, introducing in-store displays as well as a digital “Well Wish Wall” where shoppers can submit their well wishes for kids to see.
Special-edition bread loaf packaging also highlights the collaboration by sharing inspiring stories from three wish kids:
you know.) Below are several short lists of gardening books for different interests.
Native Plants and Pollinators
• “The Ultimate Wildlife Habitat Garden: Attract and Support Birds, Bees and Butter ies” by Stacy Tornio (2024)
• “Bird-Friendly Gardening: Guidance and Projects for Supporting Birds in Your Landscape” by Jen McGuinness (2024)
• “How to Attract Wildlife to Your Garden” by Dan Rouse (2023)
• “Gardening with Native Plants of the Paci c Northwest” by Arthur R. Kruckeberg (2019, 3rd ed.)
Gardening for Small Spaces
• “Small Gardens: Essential Know-How and Expert Advice for Gardening Success” by Zia Allaway (2023)
• “The Herb Book: The Stories, Science and History of Herbs” by DK Publishing (2023)
• “Edible Houseplants: Grow Your Own Citrus, Coffee, Vanilla, and 43 Other Tasty Tropical Plants” by Laurelynn G. Martin (2023)
• “The Urban Garden: 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the City” by Kathy Jentz (2022)
Addison, who fulfilled her dream of experiencing the wonders of Pearl Harbor; Aden, who ventured out for an epic fishing trip; and Joanna, born with an adventurous spirit that wouldn’t rest until she learned to surf the breathtaking shores of Hawaii.
“We are truly honored to partner with Make-A-Wish on this meaningful two-year journey, committing to help grant lifechanging wishes,” said Krystle Farlow, senior director of brand management for Nature’s Own.
“Together, we hope to continue to inspire and spread goodness, one wish at a time.”
To learn more about the campaign, visit naturesownbread. com/make-a-wish.
Bananas Foster French Toast
Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 French Toast:
• 4 eggs • 2 cups half-and-half • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 stick butter • 1 loaf Nature’s Own Butterbread
Bananas Foster Sauce:
• 1/2 stick butter
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3 bananas, sliced lengthwise and quartered
To make French toast: In mixing bowl, combine eggs, half-andhalf, cinnamon, sugar and vanilla. Beat until well blended.
Growing Food
• “Growing an Edible Landscape: How to Transform Your Outdoor Space into a Food Garden” by Gary Pilarchik (2024)
• “The Backyard Homestead Guide to Growing Organic Food: A Crop-by-Crop Reference for 62 Vegetables, Fruits, Nuts, and Herbs” by Tanya Denckla Cobb
• “Simplify Vegetable Gardening: All the Botanical Know-How You Need to Grow More Food and Healthier Edible Plants” by Tony O’Neill
• “Veg Out: A Stress-Free Guide to Creating Your First Vegetable Garden” by Heather Rodino (2023) Gardening Off the Beaten Path
• “Gardening Can Be Murder: How Poisonous Poppies, Sinister Shovels, and Grim Gardens Have Inspired Mystery Writers” by Marta McDowell (2023)
• “Hello Tiny World: An Enchanting Journey into the World of Creating Terrariums” by Ben Newell (2024)
• “Weird Plants” by Chris Thorogood (2018)
Beth Wood is a senior collection development librarian for Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries. Email her at readingforfun@fvrl.org.
New at the Library
FICTION
“Bonded in Death” by J.D. Robb
“The Queens of Crime: A Novel” by Marie Benedict
“Beautiful Ugly” by Alice Feeney
NONFICTION
“The World After Gaza: A History” by Pankaj Mishra
“Reading the Waves: A Memoir” by Lidia Yuknavitch “A Century of Poetry
On nonstick griddle or griddle pan on medium heat, melt butter.
Dip each bread slice into egg mixture until fully coated (two times each). Place on griddle and cook until each side is slightly brown.
To make bananas foster sauce: Melt butter and brown sugar together; add cinnamon. Once melted into caramel, add sliced bananas.
Continue spooning sauce over bananas in pan.
Plate French toast and spoon bananas with sauce on top of each French toast stack.
Peanut Butter and Apple
Total time: 10 minutes
Servings: 1
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• 1 slice Nature’s Own Butterbread
• 1/2 apple, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon honey
Spread peanut butter on one side of bread.
Arrange apple slices on top of peanut butter. Drizzle honey over apple slices.
I so rarely get sick that, when I do, I look at my body like it’s some kind of trickster.
“Is this your idea of a joke?” I asked my body in the middle of the night.
I occasionally get carsick and even get air motion sickness on planes, but my nausea never (if you will pardon the expression) rises to the level of actual vomiting. So my reaction at 2:30 in the morning was to assume this was a practical joke.
No, my body insisted. This is the real deal.
And it was. I brushed my teeth. I used mouthwash for good measure. I went back to bed a little shaky and was glad that was over. I had almost fallen back to sleep when I discovered my celebration had been hasty.
“No way. I never throw up twice. You’re just wrong.”
Nope, definitely not wrong. This time, I felt really wobbly. I lay on the bathroom floor afterward for a minute or two.
“At least there is nothing left to throw up!” I celebrated, again prematurely. I had just enough time to begin a dream when I woke a third time.
“Three times is the limit,” I informed whatever gastrointestinal scorekeeper in the sky might be listening. “No one throws up more than three times.”
I went back to bed, satisfied that this episode was finally behind me.
I don’t even remember the fourth trip. Or the fifth. Belief in my underlying good health was beginning to fail and, worse yet, my faith in numerology was eroding. Five times? Six? Now I lay for long periods on the bathroom tile, wondering if it would be easier to just drag a pillow and blanket into the tiny bathroom. At this point, my cat, Felix, was alerted to
the fact that something out of the ordinary was occurring and joined me in the bathroom. He surveyed my posture on the floor somewhat disapprovingly. “Mama, this lying on the floor is not a good look,” he informed me as he sniffed my eyes and mouth. I agreed. I lost count of my journeys to the bathroom, even as they seemed increasingly pointless, as there was virtually nothing left within me to expel. Instead, I watched as the clock turned from 3:00 to 4:00 and then to 6:00. At a few minutes before 7:00, I made my final trip to the bathroom—and I did not throw up. That was a happy thing. Not throwing up was the happiest thing that had happened in four-and-a-half hours, and I was absurdly pleased that this extended practical joke had finally run its course. I went back to bed just as my husband, Peter, was getting up, and I stayed there for much of the day. Peter consulted Dr. Google and thought I probably had the norovirus, which sounded like a strong contender. By midmorning, I was able to drink some water, and I considered this a noteworthy accomplishment. By the end of the day, I tackled a banana. It did not taste great. But I am better now, and I feel as I always do on the rare occasions when my body does not behave the way I expect. I am ridiculously grateful. I am so grateful this is an anomaly. I remember all my friends and family who live with chronic conditions every day, and I realize what a big idiot I am to ever complain about my minor inconveniences.
And I also realize that, in times of real trouble, my cat would be useless. To see photos, check out CarrieClassonAuthor on Facebook or visit CarrieClasson.com.
Practical Joke
Aardwolves & Hyenas
Alright, imagine you’re at the zoo, and you’re walking past a cool-looking enclosure. You stop and see a creature with a body like a small hyena, but the plaque says this quirky animal is not a hyena but an aardwolf. The name “aardwolf” comes from the Afrikaans language. The name means “earth wolf” because they love to dig, and they live in burrows. Aardwolves do not hunt for game like hyenas do. Nope! Aardwolves are insect hunters — and they’re really good at it!
Being shy, aardwolves like to mind their own business but they do have superpowers that help keep them alive. Their big, pointy ears work like insect radar, helping them listen for the buzzing sounds of underground insects. The fur of an aardwolf is its superhero cape, making it one of the ninjas of the African savannah. Their perfect camouflage helps them blend in and stay hidden from predators. Another superpower they have is night vision, which helps them see their nighttime world.
Just around the corner from the aardwolves at the zoo you’ll see a very distant cousin of the aardwolf, the hyenas. Both animals might look like wild dogs, but would you believe they are actually more closely related to cats? There are four main types of hyenas, but the most famous one is the spotted hyena. These animals are found mostly in Africa. They’re smart, strong and, like the aardwolves, they have lots of cool skills!
A hyena’s famous “laugh” is its most famous superpower. This noise is actually one way for the creatures to talk to each other, even from miles away. As a matter of fact a group of hyenas is called a cackle which is another word for laughter. And hyenas talk a lot making other sounds like growls, grunts, and howls. They also have bionic jaws that help them eat things too tough for other animals, like bones! These creatures are smart and often work together to solve problems. Hyenas might not look like fast runners at first, but they can actually run at speeds of up to 37 miles per hour! This ability lets the cackle run down large game. Other than hunting food, hyenas are thieves and do not mind stealing another animal’s dinner or leftovers. They’re strong, and vital members of the animal kingdom.
Aardwolf