Notice: Undefined index: HTTP_REFERER in /home/stparch/public_html/headmid_temp_main.php on line 4394
Newspaper Archive of
The Goldendale Sentinel
Goldendale , Washington
February 19, 2004     The Goldendale Sentinel
PAGE 1     (1 of 16 available)        PREVIOUS     NEXT      Jumbo Image    Save To Scrapbook    Set Notifiers    PDF    JPG
 
PAGE 1     (1 of 16 available)        PREVIOUS     NEXT      Jumbo Image    Save To Scrapbook    Set Notifiers    PDF    JPG
February 19, 2004
 
Newspaper Archive of The Goldendale Sentinel produced by SmallTownPapers, Inc.
Website © 2024. All content copyrighted. Copyright Information
Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Request Content Removal | About / FAQ | Get Acrobat Reader




USE SUBOECT TO LICENSE AGREEMENT• REPRODUCTION, DISSEMINATION, STORAGE, DISTRIBUTION PROHIBITED• Great things to read in Car chase...page 3 Voc Ed students...page 7 Wrestlers going to state...page 10 this week's Sentinel L II Price 50¢ Thursday, February 19, 2004 • Goldendale, Washington 98620-9526 One hundred and twenty-fifth year --- No. 8 RENAISSANCE STUDENTS m pital's comm ,wants By SAM LOWRY News Reporter The central issue concerns cost vs. quality and scale. As some have put it, do~ the dis- referring to the sud- ' Contributed photo ; rendition of the prehistoric Missoula Flood in the Columbia River near Crown Point. From the painting "The Airival," by Shedd, artists Stev ("Don't call me Steve") H. Ominski and Brian Swaren. SKINNER obs. a movie theater, that points are often dis- local government, and in the newspa- reeenfly, they were COnclusion directly the people who survey. conducted by and Kerry Crain like it's great shape," call it a sudden I, Hastings may back Ice Ag flood "trail" mination letter, excused him- self quickly when The Sentinel r, ,'hed him by phone. He did ask Kim Knotts, Common-wealth's director of investor relations, to call The Sentinel. "We always reserved the right to modify any of the benefit plans," said Knotts. "The Goldendale group was not singled out. We've been consistent in how we've han- dled it." ~notts cited a June 26, 2o03 press release that announced a variety of cost- cutting measures, from See HEALTH, page I6 SAM LOWRY denly-improving prospects for a National Park Service project that could benefit Klickitat• County and much of the Columbia River basin. It's called the Ice Age Floods National Geographic Trail. Kleinknecht is the Tri-Cities- area chapter president of the Ice Age Floods Institute, a non- profit organization with chap- ters in four states, dedicated to study of the Missoula Floods. These massive floods swept down the Columbia between 12,o0o and 14,000 years ago when a series of ice dams broke, releasing the contents of of ice-age lakes esti- mated to have been up to 2,000 feet deep and 200 miles long. At times, the floods sent 4do-foot walls of water down the Columbia River Gorge and sub- merged the site of today's Tri-Cities under a thousand feet or more. They left behind a unique landscape of coulees, scoured cliffs, boulder- strewn fields, giant ripples and a host of other geologic oddi- ties that went unde- ciphered for years. There has been talk for many years of finding a way to "inter- pret" the ancient flood land- scape for the public. To Kleinknecht and others who are fascinated by the age-old, cataclysmic event, the floods' features, stretching from inland Montana nearly to the Pacific, are a national treasure. By 2ool, the National Park Service (NPS) had a plan in place. Not really a trail at all, the project's practical vision was to establish markers on existing public lands that would identify flood-related geological features. Hundreds of sites would be compiled on maps and in self-guided litera- ture for interested visitors. A study and design pro- dueed by Jones and Jones, a Seattle landscape architecture firm, won two national awards. But then, quieldy, the com- bined effects of recession and See ICE AGE, page 11 ... Jobs, tourists and industry, please for the newly created "indus- trial committee" ' of the Goldendale Area Camber of Commerce, asked many ques- tions along side the employ- ment inquiry. If one were to make conclu- sions from the x4-page report (which was random, but not scientific) a few things rise to the surface: Goldendale needs jobs, better government and local entertainment. A primary idea from the survey is the perception of Goldendale as a retirement community. More important- ly, that it could grow more in that direction, and produce jobs. As one respondent said sue- cinctly, "Only if designed as Arizona has it." Referring to the a~ive and organized lives of the retired snowbirds that flock to the southwest each winter to live in happy climates and whose communities cater to the active elderly rather than shut them in homes. "People need to be educated on what a retirement commu- nity is," said Crain. Crain's definition of retire- ment community is three-tier, with retirees in independent scenarios all the way to till nursing care options all of which are situated within an active elderly environment. Crain says that translates into jobs, "They [retirees] would need cooks, house keepers and nursing care." A second theme to emerge from the survey is this: There See SURVEY, page 12 ances that whatever is done, will be done fight. Board members and hospital officers say they are prepared to delve into past decisions that have led the project to its pre- sent place. Goldendale citizens' upset over the cost underesti~ 3te and the later loss of $432,000 to a failed contract ($422,000 of it since recovered). "We had to be sure on this one," Kolberg said. He also vouched tbr the pro- "ECONOMICAL PLANS" See HOSPITAL, page 12 Public forum on school levy Wednesday night The Goldendale school in a Feb. 3 vote. Official results board and levy committee are released by the Klickitat asking everyone in the com- County Auditor s office on munity to attend a public Friday give the final margin as forum on Wednesday, Feb. 18 55.7 percent (830 votes) in at 7 p.m. in the Goldendale favor, 44.3 percent (65£votes) High School gymnasium, opposed. The levy needed a A discussion of the 2004-05 6o-percent margin in order to and 2005-06 school levy will be moderated by board chair Deborah Heart and members Carl Conroy, Pat Gallagher, Larry Hurst and David Telford, said the levy committee's Linda Anderson. The board and committee will also have printed surveys, paper and pens avail- able. "We are inviting the public, and asking them to express themselves," said district Superintendent Ian Grabenhorst. The Goldendale School District's proposed $x,395,ooo-per-year, two-year replacement levy was defeated See offi- cial levy results from distriets around the county on page a6. pass. State law allows the option of holding another levy elec- tion, either on April 27 or May 18. The board wants to hear from the community first, and do a better job of explaining the levy, before deciding whether or not to hold another elec- tion, said Grabenhorst. Goldendale High School is located at 525 Simcoe Drive. Anyone who needs addition- al information should call Linda Anderson at 773-4608 or Ian Grabenhorst at 773- 5177. BARBECUE| TEXAS BARBECUE! Photo by Sam Lowry Just re-opened under new management, Roadhouse 97, two miles north of Goldendale, serves breakfast and Texas- style barbecue prepared in a double-barreled outdoor smok- er. "Barbecue is our calling," said David Joe "D.J." Metreveli (RIGHT), who bought the restaurant along with partners Rick Trayan and Carol Hunt (See the Biz Buzz, page 3). turer, nine of the small local Co-workers in the when Industries, a aluminum owned the the John Day miles from *rnpanies scram- or more gorge-area sec- ',, ~sadly, yes. is only one ot the tales in what many a widespread trend, from high medical have financially- The company cited an "extremely competitive and difficult )3usiuess environ- ment," with "orders at his- toric lows," for its decision to "amend certain benefit plans to improve cost structure and market position." "I tfiink it was outrageous," said Verna Boyette, 70, of The Dalles. She is one of the retirees who lost her medical coverage. "That hurts when you get to this age." Boyette said she has sufficient income and is "not destitute," but has begun paying $XlO per month for supplemental coverage. at the Goldendale plant, "It was supposed to have been a lifetime benefit. I'm pretty devastated. I was using it as my principal insurance. You could probably get by if you didn't have to take any medi- cines." Jack Bartel agreed. "We're going to feel it. Prescriptions are the worst," he sai~l. Bartel and his wife will pay about $275 a month for supplemen- tal coverage. What's more, most recall the offer of a survivor benefit - healthcare for a spouse after the retiree's death, as in trict want, and can it afford, the At last, the hospital's acute Mercedes, the~olvo, the Chevy care wing committee is off the or the Bug? ground. : ..... . , Some of the 30 or so corn- The board's message is that .I munib, members at its inau- aiming for the Bug is short- i" 1 gural meeting last Wednesday sighted. They favor a Volvo - it J" raised hard questions; some gives the family room to grow. Meanwhile, some citizens - .,j ............ displayed more than a little and the county treasurer, who skepticism. Many expressed oversees hospital district frustration with the small amount of time allotted for finances - are saying: We ve Photo by Sam Lowry questions and discussion, got money fi)r a Bug; prove to W " , • |! • alted ten years to see more parents in the stands for the Renmssance awards than for a basketball game, said But they showed up, and set us that we don't need more, endale Schools' Superintendent lan Grabenhorst. Families and friends filled the bleachers on Thursday evening, to work resolving the thorny and remember that our credit 12, as about 150 students were recognized for academic achievements including Fall 2003 grade point averages issues at hand. is already stretched to the limit. 'e 3.0 and grade point improvement. Here, special guest speaker Connie Pond (FAR LEFT) leads award winners We want to get the show Archi(ect Steve Kolberg of Peterson Kolberg Associates Jgh some inspirational tai ch'i. back on the road. That s what (PKA! in Portland and inde- ~ ~ ~ Dennis Carver, board of com- pendent projet~ manager Milt ,rmer sn elter owne r cuts retir ,=es loose missioners' chair for Hospital District #1, which operates the Ketcham presented floor plans, Klickitat Valley Hospital conceptual drawings, construe- (KVH), said several weeks ago tion details and cost figures for the planned wing, which would rnmonwealth In preparation for what She also felt a sense of Walsborn's case -- as havir when the committee was being adjoin the current building on ,, _, , "" ......... turned out to be the smelter's injustice. "Everybody was been in exchange for taking formed.He was referring to the hos- itspKASOUthhasSide.been working on ~Usines can- first shutdown and eventual under the impr,ession it would reduced pension. Thats wh pitals difficult last year, which theproject for about a ~ ear and t,, ltl:r., , sale to current owner Golden last a lifetime, said Boyette. Boyette recalls, and she oug], lifetime Northwest, Commonwealth "I could understand if they to know; she was the plant s saw progress on the care wing a half, since a pre~4ous archi- stymied by financial woes and a tect was fired for drastically ,,_~ offered an estimated 50 to went bankrupt. They ,could benefits administrator at the change of architects. Ui:il coveraQe z00 salaried employees, who have done it differently, time. Once those problems were costUnderestimating- the 2ooo citizens'the projeCt Scom_ t .~a~=, ,-,, ,~v " had by then passed the age of Among other retirees that Those who agreed to theresolved and the new archi- mittee helped pass a $7.5 mil- ew-~,.~vvr~. 5o, an early retirement pack- The Sentinel was able to tradeoff not only lost the teets plans were nearing com- ews Re otter age. The offer included life- locate in The Dalles area, the income, their widows or wid- pletion, the board convened lion levy., only to learn it would not be nearly enough. do- time medical insurance, with sentiment was unanimous, owers are losing the health the committee to help them On this night, Kolberg pre- , e~ a company owe the option of coverage for "The insurance was the main benefit as well. decide how to proceed,sented a budget of $7,650,000 .es . who retired soouses, part of the retirement," said The company, according to Some members had beenfor the building, Sm,3o8,on ago~ - • ...... part of a similar committee in for the entire project. He ^_," ....... Last June 28, the retirees Dick Miller, who was athe retirees, ~s unwflhng to t~dlS Sl~ruCK In (liner ,, , o- • - who accepted the package chemist at the smelter. This discuss anv of it. "I ve written 2000 that reviewed an earlier nomlc times be and were still on the was the deal. The letter from to Com~onwealth," said vernon of the care wing plan. vouched for its economy: "Its t, even.when benefi- Commonwealth planreceived Commonwealth was out of Miller. "I've called. No The•board in recent weeks one of the most economical are aging, on fixed a letter from Louisville. Their the blue." response." imAted them to serve again, with,'fl°°r ,planShe I Vesaid.ever KolbergW°rked and counting on a former employer was termi- Said Shirley Walsborn, Brian Rettaliata, the direc- licOtherssessioncameint°thetheKvH°pen'board-pUb" eveITdescribedcost b)hC~Wa buildinghe had con-rUn - company said was nating the health benefit as of whose late husband Howard tor of corporate human room because they care about tractor. "We knew it was real Jan. 1, 2004. worked in production services resources who signed the ter- the hospital and want assur- hot," he said, referring to