Tis the Season Goldendale, Washington
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2025
Vol. 146 No. 51
$1.00
KPUD raises rates The Klickitat Public Utility District (KPUD) approved a 3% electric rate increase as part of its 2026 budget adoption during a public hearing held December 9. The new rates take effect January 1, 2026, and apply across all retail rate classes. The increase will add an average of $4.46 per month to a residential customer’s bill. In a press statement, KPUD said its power costs continue to rise due primarily to higher Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) rates and increased reliance on higher-cost Tier 2 power as customer demand exceeds KPUD’s BPA preference allocation. BPA increased rates by approximately 4.5% in October 2025. Additional cost pressures include higher transportation, materials, insurance, and construction expenses. General operating cost in-
creases account for roughly half of the rate adjustment and will increase KPUD’s annual revenue requirement by approximately $1 million, according to the KPUD statement. The utility expects future rate adjustments of around 3% annually as it invests in essential infrastructure to maintain reliability and accommodate load growth associated with increased electrification. Outdoor lighting rates were reviewed separately, and savings from KPUD’s ongoing conversion to LED lighting have allowed reductions in rates for yard lights and community street lighting. More information is available at www.klickitatpud.com, and customer service representatives are available to help customers estimate individual bill impacts.
Lou Marzeles
HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS: Santa brought up the rear of the big Candy Cane Lane Parade Saturday, attended by a large, appreciative crowd. See winners of Best Decorated homes and businesses on page B1.
The four weeks of Advent A Sentinel special observation Join us as we celebrate each theme of each week of Advent. Share your reflections on the themes.
Lou Marzeles
LAST DAY TO HELP: Taletha Wagoner stands by the Giving Tree in Pat’s Place. Today is the final day to pick a star from the tree and help give a family in need a magical Christmas.
From one childhood memory to hundreds of smiles Lou Marzeles Editor What began as a childhood memory in a small-town storefront has grown into one of Goldendale’s most quietly powerful holiday traditions. Taletha Wagoner, founder and organizer of The Golden Giving Tree, knows firsthand what it means to be on the receiving end of community kindness. In 1984, when she was a child growing up in Camas, Washington, her grandmother signed their family up for a local “giving tree” program. “The whole community came together for us,” Wagoner recalled. “They brought food, clothes, toys, bicycles—everything you can imagine. We were very poor, and it meant the world.” That experience stayed with her. When Wagoner moved to Goldendale several years ago, she noticed there were seasonal drives
for coats and pets, but nothing quite like the giving tree she remembered—a program focused specifically on making sure local children had gifts under the tree at Christmas. So in 2021, she decided to start one herself, with space provided to her at Pat’s Place on Main Street. She began with 68 children. Last year, that number climbed to 286. This year, she estimates the total will once again exceed 200 children, primarily from Goldendale, with a handful of families in Centerville and Wishram. “I wanted this to be local,” Wagoner said. “I wanted it to help the children right here in our community.” Each November, Wagoner sets up a Christmas tree decorated with gold stars. Families in need fill out an application listing their children’s ages, sizes, and basic
See Giving page A6
Commissioners appoint interim Prosecuting Attorney Rodger Nichols For The Sentinel
Joy is an unshakable gladness of the heart, reaching out beyond difficult days, reminding us of the good we’ve known and will know again. – W. B. Yeats What brings you joy during the holidays? Please send your answers to info@GoldendaleSentinel.com, and we’ll share them in upcoming issues.
Alexander Takos, Klickitat County Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney was named interim Prosecuting Attorney by county commissioners at the end of a busy agenda December 9. He said he’d been a prosecutor for 10 years, including previous experience as one of 26 attorneys in the Kitsap County Prosecuting Attorney office. “In that office, I had served in nearly every single criminal unit,” he said. “I’ve represented municipalities, including the City of Bainbridge Island and the City of Port Orchard. I represented the state for the majority of my career in the Superior Court in Kitsap
County. I’ve conducted over 40 trials in my 10 years. Since coming here, I’ve done 15 felony jury trials. “I’ve handled cases that include contested infractions for failing to renew your tabs to aggravated murders and everything in between. I have dedicated my career to serving the public and attempting to keep our communities safer through the criminal justice system.” Commissioners did note that he does not reside in the county, which is not a requirement for an interim position, but would be if he were to be elected. He confirmed that he would be willing to relocate if that were the case. Two of the biggest items on the
See County page B1