JOURNEY THROUGH KLICKITAT COUNTY INSIDE Goldendale, Washington
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2024
Vol. 145 No. 15
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Jail vote splits county Republicans LOU MARZELES EDITOR
FILE PHOTO
FIRST OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS: Dispatchers at Goldendale Emergency Dispatch Center respond before the first responders.
Dispatchers saluted for service this week CODY A. COURSON FOR THE SENTINEL
On March 11 Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a proclamation officially observing April 14-20 as Telecommunicators’ Week, a special week honoring the telecommunications personnel in the public safety community. The National Public Safety Telecommunicators’ Week website states, “Every year, during the second week of April, the telecommunications personnel in the public safety community are honored. This week-long event, initially set up in 1981 by Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office in California, is a time to celebrate and thank those who dedicate their lives to serving the public. It is a week that is to be set aside so that everyone is made aware of their hard work and dedication. We encourage all of you to celebrate and honor yourselves, your co-workers, your bosses, and your employees. Host a party, reach out to your local media and public officials, or launch an awards program.” A few of our own Klickitat County Dispatchers shared how they personally approach the job. “I worked as a paralegal for years, but had always been interested in dispatching,” says Michele, who has been with the team for a little over two years. (Because of privacy concerns for dispatchers, we’re not using full
names in this story.) “I come from a first responder family, with my dad being a firefighter, so I’ve always had a heart for public service. When a dispatcher here in Goldendale was retiring, she encouraged me to apply for the position. I decided to try something different, so I ended up starting a whole new career at the age of 52.” When asked if it took her time to get used to answering 9-11 calls, Michele states. “We’re sometimes called the first first responders. We take the calls during emergencies before law enforcement or paramedics can get there, so sometimes trying to decipher what’s going on through emotions, screaming, and sometimes crying, it can be tough. We get the rawest emotions through the phone. “The best thing to do if you need to call 9-1-1 is to let us ask the questions,” Michele continues. “We know the information we need. The most important thing you can tell us is the location of the emergency; knowing where you are at all times is incredibly important, whether it’s your address or a mile marker if you’re on the road. That way we can get help to you as soon as possible.” One of the supervisors of the local Dispatcher team, Filiberto, has been a dispatcher for an incredible 22 years. “I originally wanted to be in law enforcement, but I was too young at the time,” Filiberto says, “so I got started in telecommuni-
cations in Nevada in 2002. I came to Klickitat County in 2016, and I’ve been here ever since. I can’t imagine doing anything else.” Asked how he made it 22 years in this profession, he answers, “I’m still trying to figure that out! The average career span for dispatchers is two to five years because it takes such a toll on your mental health. It has to really be something you want to do. I have a passion for helping people, and this is how I get to do it.” 9-1-1 was established in 1968 by the Alabama Telephone Company. The first call was made in Haleyville, Alabama by Alabama Speaker of the House Rankin Fite, and answered by U.S. Representative Tom Bevill. Before 9-1-1 was established, calls would come in over local radio stations, which were transmitted to police stations, then responded to. The 9-1-1 call center was established in Klickitat County in 1996. They are fully staffed with 10 dispatchers, two or three working at any given time, 24/7/365. This dedicated team of first responders works behind the scenes, typically forgotten once emergencies are resolved. If you know a dispatcher, make sure to give them a high five during Telecommunicators’ Week. You can also send them an encouraging comment on their Facebook page, Klickitat County 911 Dispatch/Emergency Management.
The proposed shutdown of the Klickitat County Jail has stirred conflict within the county Republican Party. The Klickitat County Board of Commissioners voted March 29 by a two-to-one margin to shutter the jail by April 12, this Friday, in the wake of a suicide and a gravely ill inmate in the facility last year. The Republican Party of Klickitat County has posted an online petition called “Stop the Shutdown!” stating, “The Klickitat County Republicans are concerned about the recent decision to close the Klickitat County jail. This process came as a surprise to the community and to the staff and leadership at the jail.” They plan to present the petition at the commissioners’ meeting on April 16.
CONTRIBUTED
Banquet honors cattlemen (and women) and families LAUREN SCHUSTER
LOU MARZELES EDITOR Klickitat County has been thrust into a media spotlight lately. In recent weeks stories on developments in the county have appeared in a Portland radio outlet (Oregon Public Broadway) and in The Seattle Times, The Lynnwood Times in Snohomish County, and other news sources. The coverage has centered on one potential event—the possible
closing of the Klickitat County Jail and corollary issues—and one controversial person—Loren Culp, a Klickitat County Sheriff’s Department deputy and chief of the jail. The Lynnwood Times appears to have been the first to break the news that Culp could be expelled from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) because of derogatory comments he made about a woman running for public office and
others who expressed offense about his offensive comments. Culp called them “bitches.” The WASPC sent a letter to Culp chastising him for his language and additionally claiming Culp misrepresented his position in the Sheriff’s Department. (Culp called himself the Chief Deputy when his position is Chief Jail Deputy, though the omission of one word could have been an oversight.)
See News page A8
See Split page B1
WELL DESERVED: Betty Fahlenkamp received the Jim Bridgefarmer Award at the annual Klickitat County Cattlemen’s Association dinner last month.
FOR THE SENTINEL
County suddenly all over the news
But some Republicans have pushed back against the anti-shutdown outcry (see letters on page A4). And County Commissioner Lori Zoller—a Republican who voted for the jail closure—says the backlash was a surprise to her. “I have received many calls regarding the Republican petition being circulated,” Zoller states. “All have been in support of the closure of the jail. And they have expressed their displeasure with the current board running the [county] party as it seems it was a very independent decision. As I understand it, the larger group as a whole and even the PCOs [Precinct Committee Officers] were not involved in this decision [about the petition]. I was surprised because Lisa Evans, the current chair of the Republican Party, and I have established a great working relation-
“We weren’t born in the wrong generation. We were put here to keep the old one alive.” This generation of cattlemen and women are doing their best to pay homage to the agricultural history of the county while farming and ranching in the 21st century. That tradition was honored once again at the Klickitat County Cattlemen’s Association annual banquet on March 23. Tammy Kayser started the evening off with a very nice invocation to the sold-out crowd. Senator Curtis King and his wife, Lois, attended the event as our representative and guest speaker. While guests enjoyed their prime rib dinner prepared by the American Legion, Cattleman President Dan Lee introduced the 18 Steer of Merit exhibitors from the 2023 county fair carcass contest. Ag-West and Lacey Underwood sponsored each exhibitor’s ticket to the banquet. Nathan Cosner from Centerville was 3rd place, Issac Garcia from Goldendale was 2nd, and Maci Molnar was 1st. The top three received a certificate, trophy, and cash reward. The cash reward
was donated by Carla Nowlin. Other winners were: the Grand Champion Market exhibitors, swine, Grand Champion Isabella Bensel, Reserve Champion Emily Anrig; goat, Grand Champion Ashley Villalobos, Reserve Champion Nicolena Thiemann; sheep, Grand Champion Madison Gamble, Reserve Champion Paisley Hill; and beef Grand Champion Lydia Hanning, Reserve Champion Maci Molnar. These exhibitor’s dinner tickets were sponsored by Dr. Carl Conroy at Mid Columbia Vet. Billi Bare kicked off the Memorial Awards with the Jean Schilling Memorial Award. Jean was Bill’s maternal grandmother. Emma Maegher was the recipient of this year’s lamb, sponsored by the Rolfe Family. Emma’s ambition and strive for excellence, including being a 1st year Grand Champion Showman and a Washington State Archery Champion, is what drew the Rolfe family’s attention to Emma. The Bernice Thiele Memorial hog was awarded to Bailey Richman. Bailey and her pig, Mable, were 1st in Market Class and 1st in Showmanship in her age divi-
See Banquet page A8