Goldendale Sentinel February 4, 2026

Headlines & History since 1879

Goldendale, Washington

They don’t make cents any more

The 18th century penny was about the size of a modern half-dollar

Nichols

The seNTiNel

The rumors of their demise have been floating around for years, and the U.S. Mint has tinkered with their size and composition several times in the 232 years it’s been in production. But in December 2025, the Mint pulled the plug for real, ceasing production of the U.S. one-cent coin.

Before we talk about the ramifications, we have a bit of numismatic nitpicking to do. That is, technically, the United States has never minted a penny. All of them are cents. The British make pennies, and at the time of the Revolution it took 240 of them to make a pound. The Founding Fathers simplified their new system at 100 cents to the dollar. But people were used to calling things pennies, and so the two terms have been used interchangeably.

The original U.S. pennies were only slightly smaller than a modern half dollar. They were reduced slightly in the early 1800s and in 1857 shrank to the size we’re familiar with today. Obverse (heads) designs changed from a short-lived flying eagle to an Indian head until 1909, the 100th anniversary of President Lincoln’s birth.

There was tinkering with the composition as well. In 1943, the government needed copper for the war effort, and that year alone made pennies out of zinc-coated steel. And in the middle of 1982, with copper prices rising, the Mint changed the composition from 95 percent copper to 97.2 percent zinc with a thin copper coating.

The arguments for halting cent production fall into two main categories: miniscule buying power and escalating costs.

The loss of buying power is readily apparent. It is almost impossible to find any item that can be bought for a single penny.

And, yes, it’s a money-losing proposition, with costs rising from 3.07 cents per coin in 2023 to 3.69 cents in 2024. The move is estimated to save $56 million a year.

And the U.S. is not alone in eliminating its smallest coin. Some 86 countries, from Albania to Zambia have done so with little or no problems. When Canada’s parliament held hearings on eliminating their cent in 2013, not one witness supporting the cent came forward.

Casting out the cent is a rare bipartisan issue. A recent poll showed 59 percent of Democrats,

57 percent of Republicans and 60 percent of independents favored its departure. Merchants here are likely to adopt the customs of the other countries, rounding cash purchases up or down to the nearest 5 cents but making no adjustments in prices for check, credit card or electronic purchases.

So, what should you do with that jar or box of pennies? There are still 300 billion of them out there, and they are still legal tender. Some folks separate out the pre-1982 copper coins, reasoning that they got each for a cent, and the copper in them is worth nearly 4 cents. If they could melt them down, they could quadruple their money. That can’t happen now, thanks to a 2005 law that prohibits melting down pennies and nickels. But now that there will be no more cents, hoarders are hoping that repeal of that legislation is next, and they can turn those buckets and barrels of cents into real money.

Finally, we appreciate the Mint’s touch of class in adding a privy mark for the last 232 cents produced at each mint. They chose the omega, last letter in the Greek alphabet, symbol of the end.

Surprise candidacy announced at commissioners meeting

RodgeR Nichols

FoR The seNTiNel

Some of the more interesting developments at the January 27 Klickitat County Commissioners meeting came during their sometimes lively public comment part of the agenda. That was true from the start, when a tall man wearing a cowboy hat came to the microphone.

“I just want to say that my name is John Bruce.” he said.

“I’m a retired chief of police of three different agencies, and I am currently running for sheriff of Klickitat County.”

He said no more, but a bit of Internet research revealed John Bruce was chief of police of Frisco, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, with a population of 200,000 and a police force of 215 sworn officers. He has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s in public affairs, both from the University of Texas at Dallas. Bruce worked his way up through the ranks and served as chief of the Frisco Police Department from 2013 to his retirement in 2019. He completed Session 216 of the FBI National Academy and is an alumnus of the Leadership and Command College. After his retirement, he served for nearly three years as chief of

police of Richland, Washington, a city of 64,000 with a police force of 65 sworn officers, before a change in the city administration in 2022 brought in their own candidate.

There was another surprise for commissioners in the form of Robert Johnson of Wishram, where he says his neighborhood has a chicken problem,

“Our in-town chicken farm has expanded to two places now,” he said. “Thirty-plus birds running around, tearing up yards and out in the road. Six roosters I counted this morning. It’s just crazy.” He said the people responsible refuse to pen them in and that when asked politely to do something about the problem responded “You can’t make me stop it. There’s no law.”

He asked commissioners to read the ordinance from Chelan County, which he considered the best version he’s found, and urged them to adopt something similar.

And lastly Ty Ross wants to erect a 200-foot flagpole by the Klickitat County Courthouse and top it with a 30 foot by 50 foot American flag. He urged commissioners to act quickly.

“I think we’ve done everything we were asked to do by you people, so we’d like to get a vote on it, because I’ve got to get the money to the people or we won’t get it by

the Fourth of July. It’s just that simple,” he said.

The board did not give an immediate vote but promised to do so in the near future.

The morning workshop session was fairly brief. with only County Administrator Robb Van Cleave and Public Works Director Jeff Hunter reporting. Hunter said the county was saving money by building custom cabinets for the renovation of the jury room rather than hiring an outside company. He said his department has a shop at the fairgrounds.

“We’ve purchased things over the years for certain projects,” he said, “and we have built a nice wood shop out there.”

But the largest portion of the morning was spent playing the name game. After the Emergency Management Department was separated from the 911 dispatch center and moved inside the Public Works department, the county needed a new name for the 911 service to avoid public confusion. That was caused by moving Emergency Management into the Public Works Department. The dispatch center and the radio network were not moved with Emergency Management.

“I’ve got a little feedback that the name for the new department

Stonehenge Memorial renovation continues

loRRie Fox FoR The seNTiNel

Perched above the scenic Columbia River Gorge, the Stonehenge Memorial is nearing its 100th anniversary, and Maryhill Museum of Art has launched a fundraising campaign to support conservation of the iconic World War I tribute ahead of its 2029 centennial.

Amy Behrens, executive director and CEO of Maryhill Museum of Art, says the effort to preserve the monument for future generations is expected to cost about $1.5 million to complete.

“In addition to pursuing grant funding, we are inviting individuals and organizations who believe in the significance of Stonehenge Memorial to partner with us—whether through direct gifts or by fundraising within their own networks,” Behrens states.

She noted that the museum’s current outreach effort, which includes a recently distributed mailer, is designed both to raise awareness and to grow a network of philanthropic supporters committed to preserving the monument for generations to come.

“Our goal is to have the conservation work completed in time for the centennial,” she

adds. Preparatory work on the Stonehenge Memorial Conservation Project began following Armistice Day in 2018, which marked 100 years since the ending of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918. This work has been supported by private foundations and individual donors, and the museum is currently applying for grant support from the State of Washington and will continue seeking public and private funding to complete the project, she noted.

A phased approach to preservation

The Stonehenge Memorial Conservation Project will move forward once at least 50 percent of the total funding is secured, Behrens says. The work is planned in three phases. The first phase focuses on acute remediation, followed by a second phase of preventative restoration. Together, these two phases can be completed with approximately 50 to 60 percent of the required funding and are expected to take one to two years to finish. Once the remaining 50 percent of the project is funded, the third phase will complete it with a custom mortar mix applied to the top of the monument

City allocates record funds to nonprofits

RodgeR Nichols FoR The seNTiNel

The Goldendale City Council handed out a record $100,900 of lodging tax funds to local nonprofits at its February 2 meeting. Under Washington law, revenues must be used to promote tourism, support tourism-related facilities, or fund special events.

Historically, requests have always exceeded the funds available to cover them, and 2026 was no exception; the city received requests totaling $121,750.

“We started looking through and trying to figure out a fair way how to make cuts to everyone equally as best we could,” said Councilor Andy Halm, who sits on the event committee.

“We determined the number at 20 percent, and that’s what we went with.”

There were seven requests, including a second request by the Chamber of Commerce for $20,000 to fix the highway sign. That request was denied, but $10,000 of it was added to the $40,000 requested by the Chamber. It was the only nonprofit not to have its original application request reduced.

The Brighter Goldendale Christmas Committee noted that they had not spent all of the funds allocated to them the previous year and asked for $2,799 of the monies to finish their speaker project. Their original $20,000 request was reduced to $18,000, but the committee added $1,500 toward the speaker project.

ABATE of Washington received $17,600, spread over four events. Community Days came away with $12,000. The Goldendale Pride event got $2,400, and the Kiwanis kids golf tournament received $1,400.

Councilor Steve Johnston expressed concern about the amount given to the Chamber, noting it received funds from the county as well. He was the only no vote on the grants.

Councilors did discuss the problem of speeding on 21st Street and approved stop signs at Benson Court and Chatsfield and a flashing speed sign along 21st. The street is winding and narrower than would be allowed today, which is problematic when vehicles are parked on both sides.

Under council reports, Andy Halm noted Goldendale Pride was holding an adult prom on Valentine’s Day at the Legion Hall at 6 p.m., and Danielle Clevidence added that May 2 would be Goldendale’s city cleanup day and asked anyone with questions about it to contact her.

Councilor Clevidence, who was elected mayor pro tem at the last meeting, chaired the meeting in the absence of mayor Dave Jones, who was recovering from a recent hospital stay.

“He said thank you to everyone for all the prayers, the voices of concern, the text messages, phone calls and everyone reaching out to him,” she announced. “He is on the mend. I am not

DFI urges investors to beware of AI-powered investment scams

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more sophisticated, the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) joins the North American Securities Administrators Association in urging investors to stay vigilant against a growing wave of AI-powered investment scams.

From convincing chatbots to realistic deepfakes, fraudsters are increasingly

using AI tools to mislead and manipulate. These scams are becoming harder to detect and more costly to investors.

Each year, North American investors lose billions of dollars to fraud, with losses continuing to rise steadily.

“It’s more important than ever for investors to recognize the warning signs of fraud and understand how AI is being used to deceive,”

DFI Director Charlie Clark

said. “Investors are their own first line of defense. By pausing, thinking critically, and doing your research, you can avoid falling victim to AI-driven scams.”

DFI recommends the following steps to safeguard your investments:

• Verify registration: Visit DFI’s website to Verify Financial Services and Industry Licenses in Washington State and confirm

that the individual or firm is registered to sell investments.

• Check for warnings: Look up alerts or enforcement actions from DFI’s securities division.

• Understand the technology: Learn how AI tools work and how they can be used to manipulate.

NASAA Investor Alert: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Investment Fraud

• Report suspicious activity: File a complaint to report scams or suspected financial exploitation to DFI, Washington’s Securities regulator. Be cautious if you encounter:

• Promises of guaranteed high returns with little or no risk.

• Pressure to act quickly or secrecy around the opportunity.

• Unanswered questions or vague explanations.

• Use of personal relationships or social networks to build trust. For more information on AI-related investment scams and how to protect yourself, visit www.dfi.wa.gov/10B. You may also wish to visit DFI’s investment scam tracker to learn more about scams reported in Washington State.

cfceyqdeunvapenwmvveq@hlswbbos. lolokiytrezrezre.nuvexa.us.com.

G oldendale ’ s a ttic

This week’s Goldendale’s Attic Mystery Picture

Another team photo from ages ago. This is a girls team with one guy on the left in the back, presumably the coach. We know this is Lyle ’cause

it says so on his shirt. But who are these young ladies? When was this? Beats us. 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 (509-773-3777),

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

January 31, 1946 – 80 Years Ago

A fire which broke out late Tuesday night destroyed a brooder house operated by the Goldendale High School Future Farmers classes east of the high school. An estimated 150 chicks were lost in the blaze. Another 150 chicks in a second brooder house were saved by the firemen. How the fire started has not been determined, but, by coincidence, the blaze was discovered by the FFA boys themselves as they drove into town from Wapato where that evening they had played an FFA basketball game. Seeing the smoke boiling from the brooder house, the boys, accompanied by their teacher Mr. Gronewald and Principal Warren Flanagan, rushed to the spot and attempted to halt the spread of the flames, thus saving many fryers.

February 3, 1966 – 60 Years Ago

The Billiken Club met at the home of Mrs. Marjorie McClaskey for an evening of bridge. The Billiken Club was formed in 1911, and the sole purpose at the time of organization was to hold dances about four times a year with lavish decorations. Only unmarried women could belong. An occasional membership meeting was held. The dances through the years were very successful, so an annual gala affair was held for many years in February. In later years, it was changed to a bridge club with an annual dance until the early ’50s when the dances were discontinued. Mrs. F. J. Sleeper is the only charter member now living in Goldendale. The name Billiken was derived from a symbol used during the Alaska-Yukon Exposition in Seattle in 1909 and was considered good luck.

January 1, 1976 – 50 Years Ago

Editor, regarding Bicentennial Activities: reading about the Bicentennial Wagon Train, I conclude that it’s a good thing the pioneers who won the west traveled the plains in the 1840s and 1850s. Today, they could never have gotten off home base. Then, they had only the hostile Indians, the weather and starvation to worry about. Those were familiar odds. Today they would have to file an environmental impact statement listing their route of travel and what effect their stock and wagons would have on the land, on the Indians disturbed, etc. When the cost had been estimated (this year’s wagon train had a budget of $3.7 million), it is highly unlikely that a favorable feasibility study could have been produced; and without one, bonds could not have been sold. With no congressmen from west of the Rockies, it would be tough to get a federal grant. Private foundations would be interested only in the East. How else could such a project have been funded?

January 29, 1976 – 50 Years Ago

Gold Dust by Editor Pete May: Almost everyone in the over 40 age bracket knows where he was on Dec. 7, 1941, but how many of you remember Dec. 7, 1940. And what the day is famous for in Washington State history?

If you’re ready to give up, I’ll tell you—on that day the bridge called Galloping Gertie [the Tacoma Narrows Bridge] waltzed once too often and fell into Puget Sound, in a brief cloud of concrete dust.

February 1, 1996 - 30 Years Ago

Last Saturday night the Goldendale Jaycees, Kiwanis, and Chamber of Commerce held the Greater Goldendale Community Distinguished Service Awards banquet to honor residents for their service to the community. The Outstanding Young Farmer award went to Leonard Swift, the Boss of the Year went to Tom Seifert, the Outstanding Young Firemen award was presented to Tony Browning, Outstanding Young Citizen was given to Lori Anderson, the Outstanding Young Law Enforcement Officer went to Eric Anderson, the Outstanding Young Educator went to Becky Bare, the Outstanding Young Businessman went to Brent De La Paz (general manager and sports editor for The Sentinel ), and the Kiwanis awarded a Distinguished Service Award to John Miller for his involvement in the Stonehenge War Memorial project.

— Richard Lefever Klickitat

Points to ponder:

I tried to get in touch with my inner child, but he’s not allowed to talk with strangers.

A tour guide is leading a group around the Washington, D.C., area when they come to a spot on the Potomac River. “This is where George Washington allegedly threw a dollar across the river,” the guide tells the group. “That’s impossible,” says one skeptical tourist. “No one could ever throw a dollar that far.” The guide tells the man, “Well, you have to keep in mind that money went a lot farther in those days.”

Man: I hate this modern art. Look at that piece of junk!

Woman: That’s a Picasso.

Man: What about this one with all the crazy squiggles?

Woman: That’s a Kandinsky.

Man: Okay, how about this one where the guy’s got a pencil neck, his nose is upside down, and his eyes are on the same side of his head?

Woman: That’s a mirror.

Did you know that half of all people are above average?

A man walks up to a blind man and hands him a piece of matzo bread. The blind man says, “Who wrote this nonsense?”

Did you hear about the home beer brewer who entered his first brewing contest? The report he got back said, “Dear Sir, your horse has diabetes.”

How do you get an elephant out of the theater? You can’t. It’s in their blood.

What did one DNA say to the other DNA? “Do these genes make me look fat?”

Answer to last week’s Mystery Picture

MUCH DAMAGE CAUSED BY RIVER FLOODS

January 18, 1934

C. F. McEwen was up Monday from Klickitat. He says the damage done in that section is hardly realized by any who have not had first hand opportunity of viewing it. There have been numerous foot bridges across the river that were destroyed along with the bridges on the county roads. These bridges will have to be put back by private funds, and in some cases this is almost impossible. Public funds will of course repair the road and bridge damage of a county nature. On the McEwen place was a big deisel engine which weighed at least a couple of tons. It was mounted on a cement base weighing four tons. The water took the engine out slick and clean, and to this time he has been unable to locate the motor, which is so essential to his irrigating. He has a gravity

irrigation system for a part of his property that was also washed out.

On the McEwen place, five acres of the best bottom land was washed out, leaving nothing but gullies strewn with rocks. This is the same experience of all of the people owning property on the banks of the Klickitat river. The finest of their acres are gone, and there is no chance to ever reclaim the land, as the soil is washed away entirely. There has been some talk of seeking federal assistance for residents along the Klickitat river, in getting their places cleared of debris, and bridges up. This aid came to other flood sufferers in California. The places have been damaged to such an extent that some of the holders would be better off to move away and let their places go, we are told.

Teachers and administrators are not co-parents

It’s no surprise left wing lawmakers in Olympia have so far rejected hearings on Initiative IL-26-001. Last year, many of these same lawmakers pulled the old “bait-and-switch” on parents and voters who previously pushed through Initiative 2081, the so-called Parents Bill of Rights.

A brief history: voters met the signature threshold in 2024 to force the Legislature to approve the Parents Bill of Rights or allow a vote on the matter. Rather than allow a vote, they signed it into law.

The law reaffirmed the parental rights to review textbooks and curriculum, inspect records, be notified before healthcare was administered, be notified of criminal actions involving their children, be present before questioning children in criminal cases, opt out of surveys and activities deemed inappropriate by parents and more. The initiative also required schools to obtain parental permission for any so-called “transitions,” name changes, and other information of their children.

A year later, Democrats in the Legislature reversed course, altered the language, and moved to restrict parental rights in regard to their children’s education.

The amendments also eliminated a school’s requirement to notify parents of “medical services” provided to children unless there was emergency treatment required. The change allowed school teachers and administrators to resume allowing gender-dysphoric ideas on children under the guise of “medical” care. After the bait-and-switch, voters had enough and presented a new initiative, IL-26-001 to reinstate requirements under the original Parents Bill of Rights.

But Democrats don’t want to talk about their overt betrayal to voters on this issue. As of this writing, they had balked at having hearings on the new initiative. That’s in part because Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, has been peddling anti-parent garbage since before she was elected to the House. Possibly the most powerful woman in the Legislature, she doesn’t want parents to be able to reject the ideology she’s been pushing and safeguarding. Moreover, she doesn’t want parents to be the final arbiter in their children’s upbringings.

More than 400,000 voters oppose the efforts of Jinkins and her ilk working in our public schools. Voters—indeed a majority of parents—believe mom and dad should have full oversight of their children’s education and upbringing.

At least a few Republican lawmakers have a different view. They were scheduled to host two “listening sessions” Feb. 3 at the Capitol.

It’s a shame the state-owned media, TVW, was not planning to provide coverage of the events for those of us east of the Cascades. I guess TVW took its direction

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

Emails: news@goldendalesentinel.com

(News, editorial, Letters)

Obits@goldendalesentinel.com (Obituaries)

Classifieds @goldendalesentinel.com (Classified ads and inquiries)

Ads @goldendalesentinel.com (Display advertising information and inquiries) Legals @goldendalesentinel.com (Legal and public notices)

Payables@goldendalesentinel.com

Receivables@goldendalesentinel.com

Events @goldendalesentinel.com (Events and activities)

Editorial: Lou Marzeles, Editor & Publisher

Business and office staff: Owned by Tartan Publications, Inc. Leslie Geatches, President, Financial management, Special Section production, Ad Design Naomi James, Bookkeeping

from handlers kowtowing to Jinkins.

Try as they do, teachers, other school employees, and administrators are not co-parents. They work for taxpayers; they work for parents.

Reinstating the original provisions of the Parents Bill of Rights would remind school employees that they work for parents—and taxpayers.

—Roger Harnack is the owner of Free Press Publishing. Email him at roger@cheneyfreepress.com.

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.

Ken McKune Goldendale

C

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 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.

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.

Ken Margraf Goldendale

Letters from the community

We deserve better representation

I’m most disheartened that our Klickitat County representative on the Fort Vancouver Regional Library (FVRL) Board of Trustees voted against a mission statement that includes “equitable access” as part of the FVRL 2026-2030 Strategic Plan.

On January 26, a majority of the Board members chose without discussion to adopt a last-minute proposal submitted by a fellow trustee—over two prepared options that came out of a careful and professionally facilitated, months-long

process informed by public input.

The Klickitat County trustee was a member of that Strategic Planning committee. She subsequently voted to reject both the resulting recommendation and the suggested alternative.

Despite robust public support— including those from Klickitat County—for retaining “equitable access” in the plan’s mission statement, our Klickitat County representative gave no indication that she heard our voices or that they matter. That leaves unrepresented those of us concerned that diminishing equitable access and intellectual freedom in our public libraries

Guidelines for Letters

threatens our freedom of speech and our democracy.

The Klickitat County Commissioners are charged with appointing a trustee who represents the entire—and varied—population of the county to the FVRL Board. I urge them to do so very thoughtfully and diligently. Our people deserve representation that extends beyond special interests and upholds standards of excellence in public library services for all.

Letters to the editor should be original and comment on an issue. Deadline for letters is noon Monday for the same week’s paper.

Requests to keep letters exactly as written when published cannot be honored. All letters are subject to editing for grammar, spelling, clarity, and/or brevity.

There is a suggested length limit of about 300 words.

Unsigned letters (including anonymity requests), letters with fictitious signatures, letters with multiple signatures, or letters to public officials are not accepted.

Please keep the tone of letters free of rants, wild speculation, unsubstantiated claims, or pointedly personal comments. Letters that go overboard in these directions will be refused publication.

Writers must include name, city/town of residence, and phone number for verification purposes. (Street address is not required, only city or town.)

Great job, students!

I hope you all had a chance to read the Glenwood news last week. I needed to be out of town for a bit, so our awesome Glenwood High School photojournalism class was willing to write the Glenwood news in my absence. The students did a wonderful job, and I’ve received many compliments and words of praise on their behalf from some of the many who read and enjoyed it. There were lots of “Well done!”and “Great job!” comments. One reader responded, “Nice job, Miss Wilson and Glenwood High School photojournalism students.” That last comment was from a former Glenwood student from a “few” decades ago. I love our school and the students and staff who make it great. Keep up the good work, kids. I am beyond proud of you all. Thank you all. I think I owe you a batch of cookies. I might have to call on you again in the future, and it’s nice to know I can count on you all. Here’s another important reminder for all who love a good seafood dinner. The Class of 2027 Crab Feed and Silent Auction will take place on Saturday, February 14. This is the perfect date to take your loved ones to a nice dinner that comes with salad bread, dessert and a drink. Dinner begins at 4:30

H ometown Rotary Global Scholarship open until March 1

p.m. that night. If you haven’t yet made reservations, please contact Mrs. Troh in the school office or any junior class member. If crab is not to your liking, there is also chef salad with all the toppings on the menu. These kids put a lot of work into making a special annual event, so come out and show your support and enjoy the dinner and find some treasures in the silent auction.

Another event you might want to keep in mind is the Glenwood School Associated Student Body annual Red Cross Blood Drive on February 10. You can call Mrs. Troh in the office to reserve a time to come donate.

I’ve heard there is a critical shortage of blood so all who are willing and able to donate will be greatly appreciated.

Being away from Glenwood, I’ve lost track of the basketball games and results, but our Klickwood team continues to do very well. The last time I checked, Klickwood was still standing in a strong third place in the 1A Big Sky division. Way to go, boys!

If you have news to share for next week, please let me know and I’ll include it. Thanks.

Bickleton Honor Rolls

2025-2026 Bickleton High School Honor Roll

1st Semester

4.0 GPA: Hadley Moore

3.75-3.99: Bayler Mulrony, Vanessa Del Rio, Addison Whitmore, Kendra Walker

3.50-3.74: Tyler Albano, Aleah Del Rio, Victoria Leon

3.25-3.49: Kayla Carmona

3.00-3.24: Edgar Hernandez-Aguilar, Fatima Torres

2025-2026 Bickleton Junior High School Honor Roll

1st Semester

4.0 GPA: Declan Moore

3.75-3.99: Judah Anderson

3.50-3.74: Logan Jobe, Charlotte Poteet, Reagan Austin, Parley Mulrony, Kaylee Deaton, Colin Charvet

3.25-3.49: Kelsey Walker, Daira Torres, Jackson Culver

3.00-3.24: Owen Ray

Rotary District 5100 invites scholars who want to create a lasting impact in the world to apply for a 2026-2027 Global Grant Scholarship. The deadline is March 1.

Supported by The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, the Global Grant Scholarship supports professionals with immersive international graduate-level study aligned with one of Rotary’s Areas of Focus. Scholarships fund master’s, PhD, and certificate programs, or research for up to four academic years.

Rotary District 5100 selects one candidate each year to apply to the Global Grant Scholarship program, which provides up to $30,000 of annual support for eligible expenses.

Rotary’s seven Areas of Focus include peacebuilding and conflict prevention, disease prevention and treatment, water, sanitation and hygiene, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, community economic development, and protecting the environment.

“It’s a unique scholarship,” said Tamara Kaufman, the committee’s chair. “It is a high-level study abroad program. The purpose is to immerse the student in another culture while they are enrolled at a foreign university. The selected student will become part of the Rotary family by participating in a club near where they are studying and be connected to a club here in our Rotary district, which spans northern Oregon and Southwest Washington.”

“Our motto is Service Above Self,” Kaufman said. “Our goal is for a Global Scholar to help make a positive difference in the world. We want the recipient to sincerely participate in Rotary International and maintain a lifelong relationship with our organization after the scholarship period.”

A member of the White Salmon-Bingen Rotary Club in Washington, Kaufman said there are many ongoing opportunities for local and international service.

“We have a tremendous network to do good in the world,” she said. “Our club is currently working on an environmental project in Guatemala and a community economic development project in Kenya. These opportunities are in collaboration with our partner clubs here

in Rotary District 5100 and Rotary clubs on the ground. We are supporting efforts to improve lives and create lasting change, as we foster enduring relationships with our partner communities.”

Rotarians, individuals related to Rotarians, and Rotary employees are not eligible to apply. However, a candidate may be a member of a Rotaract Club, a global service club network for young leaders ages 18 to 30.

Applications will be reviewed, and eligible candidates will be invited for an interview. The candidate selected by the District 5100 Global Scholars Committee will then work with the group to apply to The Rotary Foundation for the Global Grant.

For more information on this graduate-level scholarship opportunity,

go to https://rotarydistrict5100.org/globalscholars/. Interested applicants should email a letter of intent, a copy of their CV or resume, and letters of reference to RD5100GlobalScholars@ gmail.com. The application period closes on March 1, 2026. About rotary district 5100 With 62 clubs and more than 2,100 members across northern Oregon and southwest Washington, Rotary District 5100 is a forward-thinking, Service Above Self organization. District 5100 clubs are where Rotarians in communities across the region turn everyday actions into meaningful change—both locally and globally— while forging strong connections and friendships. Learn more at rotarydistrict5100.org.

Candidates must already speak the language in which the coursework will be taught, including the language specific to their area of study. Additionally, candidates must have a letter of admission to the foreign academic institution to begin studies in late summer or early fall of 2026. Their post-education career plan must include a long-term commitment to measurable, sustainable change in their chosen field.

O BITUA RY

Nancy Jane Shepard

Nancy Jane Shepard, 67, of Goldendale, Washington passed December 26, 2025, at her home. There will be a Celebration of Life held April 25, 2026, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Goldendale Grange Hall.

Nancy Jane Shepard, the daughter of Margaret and Earl Shepard, was born November 14, 1958, in Walla Walla, Washington. She attended Sheyenne River Academy in Harvey, North Dakota, during her high school years. Her senior year she attended Gemstate Academy in Caldwell, Idaho. There is where she met John Kuhns, whom she married the first weekend after her graduation in 1977. Together they had Levi Kuhns who was born in 1979 and Travis Kuhns in 1982. After moving to California for a new job, John tragically passed away due to a work accident.

Nancy later met and married Richard Freeland in 1992. Together they had Corrina Freeland born in 1989, Jamee Freeland born 1990, Karlee Freeland born 1993, and Richard Freeland II born in 1996. In 2000 Nancy found and purchased her dream

country property in Goldendale. It had all evergreen trees and two year-round creeks. Nancy was a homemaker most of her life and also worked for the State of Washington as an in-home caregiver. One of her many traits was she could figure anything out—just hand her a manual. She had a heart of gold and was always there to help family or a friend in need.

May Nancy’s legacy lives on through those who knew and loved her. She is survived by her three sisters, Lorrie Townsend of Tennessee, Shirley Bruner of Pendleton, Oregon, and Pearl Younker of Juneau, Alaska; her six children; 14 grandchildren; and her cat, Booboo. Nancy is preceded in death by her parents, her first husband John Kuhns and her second husband Richard Freeland. Nancy will be remembered for her caring, compassionate, loving, and thoughtful qualities that shaped every aspect of her life. May her memory bring comfort to those who knew her and continue to inspire generosity in the world she left behind. She will be greatly missed by many.

Wolves control the game

AliciA HAtfield For The SenTinel

In the last week of league games, the Timberwolves delivered a dominant 84-31 victory over White Swan on the road, improving their impressive record to 16-2. This commanding performance showcased the team’s balanced scoring attack and suffocating defense, as they controlled the game from start to finish and never trailed after the opening minutes.

The Wolves established control early, opening the game with back-to-back field

MEMORIAL from page A1

and a total water-repellent coating to restore the structure aesthetically and protect it from future water damage.

According to Behrens, the Stonehenge Memorial, built of steel-reinforced concrete, requires conservation work to maintain its long-term structural integrity.

“The project plan follows 2020 and 2023 assessments that verified the structure is currently stable and fit for public use,” Behrens says. “But there is active deterioration of concrete from repairs made some 30 years ago that were not sufficient for longterm conservation.”

She notes visitors today will notice small chunks and pebbles of concrete collecting at the base of the monument’s plinths—indicative of active deterioration that will continue without this major

COUNTY from page A1

is creating a little confusion,” Van Cleave said. “I told them they could use the title of Klickitat Emergency Communications. Having the word ‘emergency’ in there is creating a little confusion with folks, since we’re trying to separate the identities. Before I actually draft a resolution, I needed to check with you, because it’s ultimately your decision.”

The name they finally settled on? Klickitat County 911 Dispatch.

Under the consent agenda, commissioners approved:

CITY from page A1

going to go into details, but he is definitely on the mend. He is in great spirits. He’s

goals from Chris Mckune and quickly building a 7-2 advantage. After White Swan briefly tied the game 2-2, the Wolves never looked back, using a combination of sharp shooting and aggressive defense to pull away. The team’s depth was on full display as they extended their lead to 14-6 after the first quarter, with contributions coming from multiple players including early three-pointers from Grant Hatfield and Brody Hatfield.

The second and third quarters belonged to Grant Hatfield, who put together an exceptional performance

work to preserve it.

According to Behrens, the project team includes Architectural Resources Group, a firm specializing in historic preservation, and A.C. Schommer & Sons, the contractor responsible for construction of Maryhill Museum of Art’s Mary & Bruce Stevenson Wing in 2012, along with numerous other preservation projects at the museum.

“The goal of this work is to ensure long-term structural stability, one hundred years or more, for the Stonehenge Memorial monument,” Behrens remarks.

A site of remembrance and community use

Stonehenge Memorial is one of the most recognized landmarks in Washington State and holds historical, cultural, and architectural

• Dates for the 2027 budget development process

• Awarding a bid for bundle #2 preventative maintenance and bearing repairs

• Final acceptance and release for the Sunnyside Road overlay

• Signing the contracts and contract bonds for a bundle of preventive maintenance, deck and expansion joint repair

• Appointments to the Klickitat County Public Economic Development Authority Board of Directors

here in town and he’s looking forward to coming back, but he wanted to express his

that included a remarkable 10-point scoring streak in the third quarter. Hatfield finished with a game-high 25 points on outstanding 58% field goal shooting, connecting on 4 of 7 three-pointers and 7 of 8 free throws. His hot streak helped the Wolves stretch their lead to 36-17 at halftime and then blow the game wide open with a 29-point third quarter. Brody Hatfield provided excellent support with 11 points, including three three-pointers on 60% shooting from beyond the arc.

The fourth quarter allowed the Wolves to showcase their

significance. The full-scale replica of England’s Stonehenge was constructed between 1918 and 1929, marking 2029 the 100th anniversary of its completion. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2021 as one of the nation’s earliest World War I memorials.

Behrens said the project will benefit the public by keeping the Memorial fit for its many public uses, including hosting ceremonies for veterans, school field trips, weddings, and community and cultural events. In addition, the site is often visited by residents, families, and travelers passing through the area.

Maintaining the site will also support local tourism and contribute to economic activity in Klickitat County, Behrens notes.

• Board of Adjustment letter and certificate of appreciation for Niemela

• Planning Commission letter and certificate of appreciation for Riley

• Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council Letter and certificate of appreciation for Chiles

• An updated grant agreement signature authorization form for the 2023 Homeland Security Grant Program

• An updated grant agreement signature authori-

entire roster, with Alias Butterfly capping off his efficient night with 13 points on 83% field goal shooting, including 3 of 4 three-pointers. Chris Mckune contributed 11 points on strong 83% field goal shooting, while Caden Fahlencamp added 9 points and closed out the scoring with a late three-pointer. The balanced offensive attack and team-first approach resulted in a 53-point victory that demonstrated the Wolves’ championship potential as they continue their outstanding season.

As

A calendar of events scheduled for Stonehenge

is available at MaryhillMuseum.org/Calendar.

For questions or additional information about the conservation project, contact Mary-

zation form for the 2024 Homeland Security Grant Program

• Authorization for the Sheriff’s Department to purchase a 2025 Chevy Tahoe through the state bid/contract system

• Authorization for the Sheriff’s Department to purchase two 2024 Chevy Silverados through the state bid/contract system

• A 2026 Superior Court public defender contract with Johnson & Associates Law Offices

appreciation for everyone for stepping up and all of that. So thank you, everyone, for doing him proud.” The meeting ended with an executive session.

E xtra

Goldendale School Board notes

Alex Gorrod attends meetings of the Goldendale School Board and shares his notes. These are not official minutes of the meetings.

I was able to attend the Goldendale School District Board Meeting on Monday, January 26. Here are some of the highlights. This is my summary and I do my best to include what is said (without my own bias) though it is most often my summation rather than direct quotes. Check out the full agenda online at: https://meetings. boardbook.org/ Public/Agenda/780?meeting =724063.

1. The meeting started with comments from the public that had to do with agenda items.

Lori Groves shared that an individual had applied for the tennis position because it had been advertised that the coaching position was open but had been told there was no team. She wanted the Board to clarify if it was an actual program. She felt that the way it was being handled was causing a lot of confusion.

Madison Groves also spoke on the tennis issue. She said she had visited with the GHS Athletic Director about the issue and was told that not enough students had signed up on Final Forms (the app used by GSD for clearing athletes for sports). She said that she felt like there were too many students who didn’t know the process of using Final Forms, and this causes the number to appear lower than it is. Therefore, she asked for more time to communicate with students to get them to sign up. (The tennis season starts in March, so there is still over a month before practices start). She also encouraged better communication of how to sign up for things through Final Forms going forward.

Daniel Lawson spoke about using LinkedIn for the search for a new superintendent and business manager. He also spoke about sports sign-ups and suggested that they start allowing for tables to be set up for sports and activities at specific times to help gain more participation and knowledge of those things.

2. Tia Hoctor (GMS Assistant Boys Wrestling Coach) was hired.

3. A late addition to the agenda was Justin Hill (GHS Head Football Coach). It listed this as falling under a portion that approved winter sports volunteers (E.2.a.4.). I am not one hundred percent sure where it was actually supposed to be. My best guess is it was supposed to be under hiring (E.2.b.2.) and was just a typo.

4. Lauren Schuster, Joseph Davitt, and Larry Pangle (all for GMS Boys Wrestling) were approved as volunteer coaches.

5. Resignations were accepted from Heather Davis (GMS Building Cook); Jennifer Neil (GHS Head Tennis Coach); Holly Howell (GHS Cheer Coach); Brad Fahlenkamp (GMS Assistant Football Coach).

6. Mr. Schlenker (Business Manager) reported that the general fund was at $1,218,298 in December (down from $1,693,048 in November and up from December 2024, $1,105,317). It was shown that the previous full year, the amount of drop was $88,335, but that so far (about 4 months) the amount has dropped $1,475,244. He explained that the larger loss was due to enrollment declines that may cause the district to make changes in its budget or staffing to help stabilize the general fund.

7. Mr. Twohy (Board Chair) asked about why we had money for a stadium but were showing a loss of money and may need to make changes, a question he said he has been getting a lot. Mr. Schlenker

explained that the stadium came from two different funds (ESSER – Funds given during the covid era to help schools and online school equalization funds). Many districts in the state used those funds to hire people or for salaries and had disastrous results. This includes Yakima who has had to cut 200 jobs due to no longer having those funds coming in. If GSD had used those funds this way, this year they would have had to cut $2 million from their budget. He compared the money to a one-time bonus you might receive from work. You can use it to purchase anything but if you use it for an ongoing expense, when that money goes away, you will still have that bill but no money coming in to pay for it. GSD decided to use those funds to invest in a long-term project that would continue to benefit the district (the stadium) for years to come instead.

8. Mr. Schlenker also reported on enrollment. FTE stands for Full Time Equivalent; every FTE provides $10,000 in funding. GPS had a 278.5 FTE (last year it was 301.4). GMS had a 246.15 FTE (Last year it was 256.67). GHS had a 283.41 FTE (last year it was 302.73). The total is 808.06 (last year it was 860.8). Online had a 2263.88 FTE (Last year it was 1993.34). He said that he believed that the total FTE will fall into the high 700 range by the end of the school year due to past declines that normally occur during the final part of the year.

9. Mr. Schlenker also gave an update on the GHS plumbing process which will be done this summer. He said that the school received a grant for $1,335,000 to do this project. He also stated that the concessions/bathroom building for the new stadium came in early and is ready to be installed as soon as weather permits. The bleachers should arrive in March/April and then after they are installed the track portion will be put in (April/May).

10. Mr. Twohy then brought up three issues for Board discussion. The first was about the changes to the public comment portion of the meeting.

He stated that they have made changes (allowing for comments on the agenda and on non-agenda items, 20-minute total time limit, etc.) not due to the superintendent retiring or the Board reorganization but due to recommendations. Meetings will now feature these two public comment sessions bookending the meeting. Individuals can only speak during one of those portions, cannot give up their time to others, are limited to two minutes, and are asked to be respectful and not break privacy and other laws. The Board can ask clarifying questions but will not respond otherwise, it is a time for them to listen and that silence shouldn’t be taken as disagreement or agreement on the issue being spoken about.

The second issue was talking about why they had chosen NW Leadership Associates to help with their search for a new Superintendent and how they were going to engage the community and school staff in the process of picking this person. The final issue was the upcoming Board Listening Session. It was scheduled for February 2nd but they had not chosen a topic for it yet. They decided that they would like the theme to be about what qualities we are looking for in a new superintendent but to give time for preparation of questions and inviting people they are delaying this meeting until later in the month.

11. Ms. Reddinger (Principal at GHS) shared that they have given out 67 Give a HEK (Hope, Empathy, and Kindness) awards to students and 14 to staff members. She had information about star reading scores showing 74.5% of those students involved in the intervention improved their scores. She also mentioned that they are going to do a one month test of an electronic hall pass system. Students would use their chromebooks to request a hall pass. The teacher would then either approve it or not, but only if there were hall passes available. Then when they returned they would return their hall pass electronically. This was said to be something they are trying to help track students to make sure they

were getting enough educational classroom time.

12. Ms. Swanson (Vice Principal at GHS/Activities Director) reported that FFA had sub-districts for Employment Skills. Maggie Guiterrez was 1st place and will move on to district competition. She did say that tennis has been given more time for recruiting players before they decide if they will need to cut it or keep it. Boy’s basketball is 15-2 and Girl’s basketball is 5-9. The Wrestlers are doing well, with 6 first place finishers at a recent meet and Brielle Starr being named the Outstanding Female Wrestler of the tournament.

13. Jon Morris (SpEd Director) shared about what he would like to see change in Special Education (SpEd). The typical school model is where a child who needs SpEd services would go to a self-contained class where they would be taught in a smaller environment with many getting one on one help. These students were often excluded from general education. He believes a better model is where those with IEPs (Individual Education Plans) are instead kept in the general education classrooms with adult support that can also go around and help other children in the classroom. The old model was more of a pull-out type idea and he wants more push-in taking place. He believes that even if a child is 1-2 grade levels behind on a subject it can still benefit them more to be in the classroom rather than getting the push-out into another room to focus on that subject where they are at in hopes of bringing them up. Part of the benefit, Mr. Morris said, was it allows for socialization and helping other kids to not view SpEd kids as different.

Mr. Siebert (Board Member) asked what that looks like for the whole of the classroom. His answer was, essentially, that it makes it more difficult for the whole but better for the few individuals with IEPs.  14. During board comments Mr. Twohy thanked students and the administrators for the gifts for Board Appreciation month. He also thanked Mr. Schlenker and Dr. Perconti for their time of working at the

school. He believes they are both leaving the district better than when they arrived, therefore they deserved our thanks. He also talked about wanting to make it a goal to see overall GPAs (Grade Point Averages) go up and for the athletic teams to win the GPA cup due to their good grades.

Ms. Heart shared that public schools are helping people become successful and thriving as individuals in society. She believes that the district and the public need to work together in support of our youth in order to bring about those good results.

Mr. Siebert talked about being thankful for the financial position the district is in compared to so many other districts. He said he sees a lot of changes coming but wants to make sure the Board and the district make decisions that help the district to continue improving.

Mrs. Wilder thanked those who voted for her and elected her. She wants to serve the community and the school well.

Ms. Richards talked about the legislative session that she went to earlier in the month in order to learn about the financial stances of those legislators toward public schools. She reminded the public that they need to make their voice heard as well.

15. During the Legislative report Ms. Heart talked about there being about 120 different bills, currently being considered, that would impact schools in some way. She asked the community to look online at Bill Checker and then to make their voice heard on those bills. She also offered to help show others how to advocate better for their own views to those in our government.

16. During the WIAA report Mrs. Wilder shared that changes to rules would start coming out in March.

17. Dr. Perconti (Superintendent) spoke about possible legislation they should keep their eyes on. Examples: merging of school districts, fund balance maximums and minimums for districts, changes in depreciation times for busses, running start FTE changing from 1.4 to 1.2, and various proposed laws that would take away local control, specifically in math and literacy.

18. The Board accepted the retirement of Dr. Ellen Perconti (Superintendent). They also voted to hire NW Leadership Associates to help with the search for a new superintendent. 19. The meeting started with comments from the public that were not agenda items. Barry Murray was the only one to speak. He shared that he believed that population numbers would continue to dwindle as long as there was no growth in job availability for our area. So he encouraged the board to think outside the box of how to pull in more students from the area that are not utilizing public education. He gave three examples: Use running start, sports, arts, and other activities in order to draw in more homeschoolers, work with DSHS, and focus on male Natives that often drop out by hiring special teachers through collaboration with the Yakama nation to focus on things that might draw them to stay in school. Check out the previous minutes for meetings on the district website. I would love to encourage anyone interested in what is going on at the school district to try and make it to an upcoming meeting.

The next Board Worksession is at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, February 9, at the GPS Library. The next Regular meeting will be Monday, February 23, at 7 p.m. in the GHS cafeteria.

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF KLICKITAT

Case No.: 25-2-00127-20 SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION

CONNIE J. HOLCOMB (AKA

CONNIE JEANNE HOLCOMB AND FKA CONNIE J. WILSON), SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE (OR ANY OTHER SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE) OF THE MARY M. HOLCOMB TRUST UNDER AGREEMENT DATED AUGUST 18, 1982, AS AMENDED & CONNIE J. HOLCOMB (FKA

CONNIE J. WILSON), SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE (OR ANY OTHER SUCESSOR TRUSTEE) OF THE REXFORD D. HOLCOMB CREDIT SHELTER BY-PASS TRUST UNDER AGREEMENT DATED AUGUST 18, 1982, AS AMENDED Plaintiffs, vs. THE ESTATE OF HOMER GOULET AND THE ESTATE OF ADELE S. GOULET, AS HUSBAND AND WIFE; THE ESTATE OF GARRET GOULET, AS THE HEIR OR DEVISEE OF THE ESTATE OF HOMER GOULET AND THE ESTATE OF ADELE S. GOULET; THE ESTATE OF PHILLIP GOULET, AND JANE DOE PHILLIP GOULET AND THEIR MARITAL COMMUNITY COMPRISED THEREOF, AS THE HEIRS OR DEVISEES OF THE ESTATE OF HOMER GOULET AND THE ESTATE OF ADELE S. GOULET; HEIDI GOULET, INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF ANY MARITAL COMMUNITY, AS THE HEIR OR DEVISEE OF THE ESTATE OF HOMER GOULET AND THE ESTATE OF ADELE S. GOULET; GREG GOULET AKA JEANPAUL GOULET INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF ANY MARITAL COMMUNITY, AS THE HEIR OR DEVISEE OF THE ESTATE OF HOMER GOULET AND THE ESTATE OF ADELE S. GOULET; DEE ANN GOULET, INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF ANY MARITAL COMMUNITY, AS THE SURVIVING SPOUSE OF GARRET GOULET AS THE HEIR OR DEVISEE OF THE ESTATE OF HOMER GOULET AND THE ESTATE OF ADELE S. GOULET; KIM PULEO INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF ANY MARITAL COMMUNITY, AS THE HEIR OR DEVISEE OF THE ESTATE OF HOMER GOULET AND THE ESTATE OF ADELE S. GOULET; THE ESTATE OF DAVID GOULET, AS THE HEIR OR DEVISEE OF THE ESTATE OF HOMER GOULET AND THE ESTATE OF ADELE S. GOULET; KATHERINE GOULET, INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF ANY MARITAL COMMUNITY, AS THE SURVIVING SPOUSE OF DAVID GOULET AS THE HEIR OR DEVISEE OF THE ESTATE OF HOMER GOULET AND THE ESTATE OF ADELE S. GOULET; NICOS GOULET INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF ANY MARITAL COMMUNITY, AS THE HEIR OR DEVISEE OF THE ESTATE OF HOMER

GOULET AND THE ESTATE OF ADELE S. GOULET. VIVIAN GOULET INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF ANY MARITAL COMMUNITY, AS THE HEIR OR DEVISEE OF THE ESTATE OF HOMER GOULET AND THE ESTATE OF ADELE S. GOULET. CAMERON PHILLIP GOULET INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF ANY MARITAL COMMUNITY, AS THE HEIR OR DEVISEE OF THE ESTATE OF HOMER GOULET AND THE ESTATE OF ADELE S. GOULET. JUSTIN DAVID GOULET, AKA JUSTIN BONIFACE INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF ANY MARITAL COMMUNITY, AS THE HEIR OR DEVISEE OF THE ESTATE OF HOMER

GOULET AND THE ESTATE OF ADELE S. GOULET. BRANDON GOULET INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF ANY MARITAL COMMUNITY, AS THE HEIR OR DEVISEE OF THE ESTATE OF HOMER GOULET AND THE ESTATE OF ADELE S. GOULET. THE ESTATE OF SAMUEL RAYMOND KERR, AKA RAY KERR AND THE ESTATE OF CATHERINE CONSTANCE

N otices

VAN DE WIELE KERR, AKA

CATHERINE C. KERR, AS HUSBAND AND WIFE, ESTATE OF ROGER KERR AND JANE DOE ROGER KERR AND THEIR MARITAL COMMUNITY COMPROSED THEREOF, AS THE HEIRS OR DEVISEES OF THE ESTATE OF RAY KERR AND THE ESTATE OF CATHERINE C. KERR; ESTATE OF CHARLENE KERR WEATHERS AND JOHN DOE CHARLENE WEATHERS AND THEIR MARITAL COMMUNITY COMPRISED THEREOF, AS THE HEIR OR DEVISEE OF THE ESTATE OF RAY KERR AND THE ESTATE OF CATHERINE C. KERR; GARY WEATHERS, INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF ANY MARITAL COMMUNITY, AS THE HEIR OR DEVISEE OF THE ESTATE OF RAY KERR AND THE ESTATE OF CATHERINE C. KERR ; BRIAN T. WEATHERS INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF ANY MARITAL COMMUNITY, AS THE HEIR OR DEVISEE OF THE ESTATE OF RAY KERR AND THE ESTATE OF CATHERINE C. KERR; CARLA GENZ INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF ANY MARITAL COMMUNITY, AS THE HEIR OR DEVISEE OF THE ESTATE OF RAY KERR AND THE ESTATE OF CATHERINE C. KERR; GREGORY KENNETH WEATHERS INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF ANY MARITAL COMMUNITY, AS THE HEIR OR DEVISEE OF THE ESTATE OF RAY KERR AND THE ESTATE OF CATHERINE C. KERR; LISA BALLINGER INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF ANY MARITAL COMMUNITY, AS THE HEIR OR DEVISEE OF THE ESTATE OF RAY KERR AND THE ESTATE OF CATHERINE C. KERR KENNETH WEATHERS INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF ANY MARITAL COMMUNITY, AS THE HEIR OR DEVISEE OF THE ESTATE OF RAY KERR AND THE ESTATE OF CATHERINE C. KERR THE UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DEVISEESS OF THE ESTATE OF HOMER GOULET AND THE ESTATE OF ADELE S. GOULET, AS HUSBAND AND WIFE; THE ESTATE OF GARRET GOULET; THE ESTATE OF PHILLIP GOULET; AND THE ESTATE OF DAVID GOULET; THE UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF THE ESTATE OF RAY KERR AND THE ESTATE OF CATHERINE C. KERR, AS HUSBAND AND WIFE; THE ESTATE OF ROGER KERR; AND THE ESTATE OF CHARLENE KERR WEATHERS; ALL OTHER PERSONS OR PARTIES UNKNOWN CLAIMING ANY RIGHT, TITLE, ESTATE, LIEN, OR INTEREST IN THE REAL ESTATE DESCRIBED IN THE AMENDED AND RESTATED COMPLAINT Defendants

The State of Washington to the said: OTHER HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF HOMER GOULET, DECEASED; OTHER HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF ADELE S. GOULET, DECEASED; OTHER HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF GARRET GOULET, DECEASED; OTHER HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF PHILLIP GOULET, DECEASED; OTHER HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF DAVID GOULET, DECEASED; OTHER HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF RAY KERR, aka, SAMUEL RAYMOND KERR, DECEASED; OTHER HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF CATHERINE C. KERR, aka CATHERINE CONSTANCE VAN DE WIELE KERR; DECEASED; OTHER HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF ROGER KERR, DECEASED; OTHER HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF CHARLENE KERR WEATHERS, DECEASED; OTHER PERSONS OR PARTIES UNKNOWN CLAIMING ANY RIGHT TITLE, ESTATE, LIEN, OR INTEREST IN THE REAL ESTATE DESCRIBED IN THE AMENDED AND RESTATED COMPLAINT FILED OF RECORD. HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF ALL OTHER PERSONS OR PARTIES UNKNOWN CLAIMING ANY RIGHT TITLE, ESTATE, LIEN, OR INTEREST

This Just In....

• Public Notice: Communications Tower - Burlington

Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway

• Public Notice: 2026 Small Works Roster and Vendor

List - Klickitat County Rural 7 Fire & Rescue

Request for Qualifications: Professional Consulting Services - Centerville School District

Probate Notice to Creditors: Donnie R Hunt - NW Legacy Law, P.S.

Sheriff’s Public Notice of Sale of Real Property: 609 5th Ave, Dallesport Jason Gates Erwin and Sara Anne Erwin - Klickitat County Sheriff

• Notice of Meeting: February 10, 2026 - South Central Workforce

IN THE REAL ESTATE DESCRIBED IN THE AMENDED AND RESTATED COMPLAINT FILED OF RECORD. You are hereby summoned to appear within sixty days after the date of the first publication of this summons to wit, within sixty days after the 26 day of November, 2025, and defend the above entitled action in the above entitled court, and answer the Amended and Restated Complaint of Connie J. Holcomb (aka Connie Jeanne Holcomb and fka Connie J. Wilson), Successor Trustee (or any other Successor Trustee) of the Mary M. Holcomb Trust, under Agreement dated August 18, 1982, as amended, and Connie J. Holcomb (fka Connie J. Wilson) Successor Trustee (or any other successor Trustee) of the Rexford D. Holcomb Credit Shelter By-Pass Trust under Agreement dated August 18, 1982, as amended (“Plaintiffs”) and serve a copy of your answer upon the undersigned attorneys for Plaintiffs at their offices below stated; and in case of your failure to so do, judgment will be rendered against you according to the demand of the Amended and Restated Complaint, which has been filed with the clerk of said court.

Plaintiff is seeking (1) a judgment declaring that a Sale Agreement dated December 10, 1975, recorded in Klickitat County, Washington under Auditor File Number 155081, and Volume 173 Page 32, collectively from the sellers Homer Goulet, Adele S. Goulet, Ray Kerr, and Catherine C. Kerr, to, Plaintiffs’ predecessors, the buyers Edward L. Uecker, Pearl D. Uecker, Delvin C. Woody, and Laura Woody is fully satisfied and said Sale Agreement as invalid to encumber the subject real property, (2) a decree quieting title to the subject real property free from any claim of Homer Goulet, Adele S. Goulet, Ray Kerr, Catherine C. Kerr, and their known and unknown heirs, successors, and assigns in Plaintiffs, as the successor in interest to the buyers of the Sale Agreement pursuant to a fulfillment deed from Edward L. Uecker, Pearl D. Uecker, Delvin C. Woody, and Laura Woody to Plaintiffs’ predecessor, Rexford Dale and Mary Marie Holcomb, recorded in Klickitat County Washington under Auditor File Number 214071 and in Volume 254, Page 877-878; and (3) any other relief as deemed proper by the Court.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys:

Paine Hamblen, P.S.

Attn: Tricia D. Usab# 38547

717 W. Sprague Avenue, Suite 1200

Spokane, WA 99201

DATED this 6th day of January 2026.

PAINE HAMBLEN, P.S.

/s/ Tricia D. Usab

Tricia D. Usab, WSBA # 38547

Attorneys for Plaintiff 717 W. Sprague Avenue, Suite 1200 Spokane, WA 99201

4934-7438-8839, v. 4 (0302, 0401, 0501, 0601, 0701, 0801)

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON FOR THE COUNTY OF KLICKITAT

STEVE JOHNSTON, a single person, and LYLE PROPERTIES, INC., a Washington chartered corporation Plaintiffs v. UNKNOWN HEIRS, SUCCESSORS AND/OR ASSIGNS OF JEANIE DAVIDSON, DECEASED, AND ALL PERSONS OR PARTIES CLAIMING ANY RIGHT, TITLE, ESTATE, LIEN OR INTEREST IN THE REAL PROPERTY AT 515 JOHNSTON AVE., LYLE WASH-

Ph. 206-209-0375

Fax 206-260-8870 (0307, 0403, 0503, 0603, 0703, 0802)

PUBLIC NOTICE KLICKITAT COUNTY

Economic Development Department

Klickitat County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee will be holding a meeting Monday, February 9th, 2026 at 10:00am at the Klickitat County Services Building at 115 W. Court Street, 1st floor, Mt. Adams Conference Room, Goldendale, WA.

INGTON, 98635, COUNTY OF KLICKITAT, PARCEL NO. 03-12-3454-010500

Defendants Case No.: 25-2-00291-20 SUMMONS THE STATE OF WASHINGTON to the said HEIRS, SUCCESSORS AND/OR ASSIGNS OF JEANIE DAVIDSON, DECEASED, AND ALL PERSONS OR PARTIES CLAIMING ANY RIGHT, TITLE, ESTATE, LIEN OR INTEREST IN THE REAL PROPERTY AT 515 JOHNSTON AVE., LYLE WASHINGTON, 98635, COUNTY OF KLICKITAT, PARCEL NO. 03-12-3454-010500

You are hereby summoned to appear within sixty days after the date of the first publication of this summons, to wit, within sixty days after the 14th day of January, 2026 and defend the above entitled action in the above entitled court, and answer the complaint of the Plaintiffs Steve Johnson, and Lyle Properties, Inc., and serve a copy of your answer upon the undersigned attorney for plaintiffs, at his office below stated; and in care of your failure to do so, judgment will be rendered against you according to the demand of the complaint, which has been filed with the clerk of said court, seeking to quiet title to the said real property at 515 Johnston Ave, Lyle W 98635, Klickitat County Parcel No. 03-12-3454-010500, and establish plaintiffs’ sole ownership of said property. Dated this 12th day of January 2026 . SHAW LAW GROUP /s/ David D. Shaw David D. Shaw, WSB No. 25959 P.O. Box 12050 Portland, OR 97212 503.221.4260 (tel); 503.221.4267 (fax) david@shaw-law.net

Attorney for Plaintiff (0208, 0303, 0402, 0502, 0602, 0702)

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR K LICKITAT COUNTY FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION, Plaintiff, vs. STEVEN D. CHARD, widower of Marilyn J. Chard; ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF MARILYN J. CHARD, deceased; SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, AN OFFICER OF THE UNITD STATES; and OCCUPANTS OF THE PREMISES, Defendants. CASE NO.: 25-2-00123-20 SUMMONS FOR PUBLICATION (60 DAYS) TO THE DEFENDANTS ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF MARILYN J. CHARD, DECEASED:

You are hereby summoned to appear within sixty days after the date of the first publication of this summons, to wit, within sixty days after the 21st day of January, 2026, and defend the above entitled action in the above entitled court, and answer the complaint of the plaintiff FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION and serve a copy of your answer upon the undersigned attorneys for plaintiff, ZBS Law, LLP, at their office below stated; and in case of your failure so to do, judgment will be rendered against you according to the demand of the complaint, which has been filed with the clerk of said court. This is a Complaint for Judicial Foreclosure of Deed of Trust.

DATED: January 13, 2026

ZBS LAW, LLP

By:/s/ Tom B. Pierce

Tom B. Pierce, WSBA# 26730

Attorney for Plaintiff

ZBS Law, LLP 11335 NE 122nd Way, Suite 105 Kirkland, WA 98034

Contact Klickitat County Economic Development Department at 509-773-7060 if you have questions. (0406, 0504)

PUBLIC NOTICE DOUGLAS COUNTY WATER CONSERVANCY BOARD

PUBLIC NOTICE OF: APPLICATIONS TO CHANGE WATER RIGHTS; CREATION OF TRUST WATER RIGHTS

TAKE NOTICE: That AFC Ranch 1, LLC of Orondo, Washington, a Washington state limited liability company, filed the applications described below which together comprise a single water conservation and banking project, all within Douglas County, Washington: Applications for Change: The following applications were accepted for processing by the Douglas County Water Conservancy Board on December 8, 2025 to change the purpose of use to either, or a combination of, groundwater preservation for mitigation and/or instream flow for mitigation, and change the place of use to either, or a combination of, a groundwater aquifer in direct hydraulic continuity with the Columbia River and the reach of the Columbia River between the current authorized point of withdrawal/diversion and the Bonneville Dam.

CS4-23308@1 (DOUG-2503): Surface water certificate

S423308C with a priority date of July 1, 1974 authorizes the withdrawal of 1,974.8 gallons per minute (gpm) and 13 acrefeet per year (afy) from a well within the NW¼ SW¼ Sec. 34, T. 26 N, R. 21 E.W.M. (at approximately river mile [RM] 488.2) for the frost protection of 57 acres within Sec. 33 and 34, T. 26 N. and a portion of Sec. 3, T. 25 N., R. 21 E.W.M. from March 1 to June 1.

CG4-23189@1 (DOUG-2504): Groundwater certificate G423189C with a priority date of June 22, 1974 authorizes the withdrawal of 1,000 gpm and 512 afy from two wells within the SE¼ NE¼ Sec. 33, T. 26 N., R. 21 E.W.M. (RM 488.5) for irrigation of 100 acres within Sec. 34 T. 26 N., R. 21 E.W.M. from April 1 to October 31.

CG4-29281@1 (DOUG-2505): Groundwater certificate G429281C with a priority date of May 14, 1987 authorizes the withdrawal of 2,850 gpm and 50.4 afy from two wells within the SE¼ NE¼ Sec. 33, T. 26 N., R. 21 E.W.M. (RM 488.5), for frost protection of 90 acres within Sec. 27, 28, 33, and 34, T. 26 N., R. 21 E.W.M. from March 1 to April 30.

CG4-30100@1 (DOUG-2506): Groundwater certificate G4-30100C with a priority date of October 20, 1989 authorizes the withdrawal of 1,000 gpm and 17.7 afy from two wells within the SE¼ NE¼ Sec. 33, T. 26 N., R. 21 E.W.M. (RM 488.5) for frost protection within Sec. 34, T. 26 N., R. 21 E.W.M. from March 1 to April 30.

CG4-CV2P650@1 (DOUG25-07): Groundwater certificate of change G4CCVOL2P650 with a priority date of May 7, 1924, authorizes the withdrawal of 350 gpm and 100 afy from two wells within the SE¼ NE¼ Sec. 33, T. 26 N., R. 21 E.W.M. (RM 488.5), for irrigation of 25 acres within Sec. 28 and 33, T. 26 N., R. 21 E.W.M. from April 1 to October 31.

CG4-CV2P651@1 (DOUG25-08): Groundwater certificate of change G4CCVOL2P651 with a priority date of May 1, 1931, authorizes the withdrawal of 540 gpm and 260 afy from two wells within the SE¼ NE¼ Sec. 33, T. 26 N., R. 21 E.W.M. (RM 488.5) for irrigation of 65 acres within Sec. 27 and 28, T. 26 N., R. 21 E.W.M. from April 1 to October 31.

CG4-CV2P652@1 (DOUG25-09): Groundwater cer-

tificate of change G4CCVOL2P652 with a priority date of May 1, 1929 authorizes the withdrawal of 950 gpm and 200 afy from a well within the NW¼ SW¼ Sec. 34, T. 26 N, R. 21 E.W.M. (RM 488.2) for irrigation of 50 acres within Sec. 33 and 34, T. 26 N., R. 21 E.W.M. and Sec. 3, T. 25 N. R. 21, E.W.M. from April 1 to October 31. The changed water rights described above will be managed in the Washington State Trust Water Right Program. Any protests or objections to the approval of these applications may be filed with the Department of Ecology and must include a detailed statement of the basis for objections; protests must be accompanied by a fifty dollar ($50) recording fee and filed with the Department of Ecology Cashiering Unit, P.O. Box 47611, Olympia, WA 98504-7611 within thirty (30) days from February 4, 2026. Any interested party may also submit comments, objections, and other information to the board regarding the above change applications. The board may receive written comments or information through March 6, 2026, at P.O. Box 608 Waterville, WA 98858 or by emailing: carol. cowling@gmail.com. Notice of Hearing: the Douglas County Water Conservancy Board will hold a public hearing for the purpose of affording an opportunity for interested persons to comment upon the applications. The public hearing will be held on February 12 at 4:00 p.m. (or if continued or rescheduled then at such time as may be designated by the Board) at Waterville City Hall, 104 East Locust, Waterville, WA. Comments may also be submitted during the Board’s regular meetings to be held on the second Monday of each month at 4:00 PM at Waterville City Hall until the Board renders a decision on the application.

(0407, 0505)

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO USE KLICKITAT COUNTY HISTORICAL PRESERVATION FUNDS

The Klickitat County Board of Commissioners has discretionary funds, generated by recording fees, which are intended to promote historical preservation or historical programs, which may include the preservation of historic documents. Klickitat County is currently seeking proposals for projects to use these funds. The total amount to be awarded in 2026 is $5,000. Projects may be to acquire or preserve local historic buildings, artifacts, or documents; to develop and present local historical programs or events, or to perform research into local history. Applicants must be non-profit or governmental entities which perform educational, interpretive, or preservative activities within the boundaries of Klickitat County which promotes or preserves the County’s local history. Descriptions of the program, along with applications, are available in the County Commissioners Office at 115 W. Court Street, Room 201 in Goldendale. You may also call the office at (509) 7734612, or email Bocc@klickitatcounty.org Applications must be completed in full and received in the Klickitat County Commissioners’ office on or before 5:00 PM on Friday, March 6, 2026 (fax submissions will not be accepted).

Dated this 16th day of January 2026. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS /S/ Ron Ihrig, Chairman (0409, 0506)

PUBLIC NOTICE The Port of Klickitat is updating its Small Works and Professional Services Rosters. Service providers wishing to be added to either roster must submit an application to the Port. Application forms may be requested by calling the Port at 509-493-1655,

MARTHA NINOTTI, AN UNMARRIED WOMAN

Grantee(s): AMERITITLE, INC, as Trustee Original beneficiary of the deed of trust:

RIVERMARK COMMUNITY

CREDIT UNION Current beneficiary of the deed of trust:

RIVERMARK COMMUNITY

CREDIT UNION Current trustee of the deed of trust: CLEAR RECON CORP Current mortgage servicer of the deed of trust: Dovenmuehle Mortgage, Inc Reference number of the deed of trust: 1156347 Parcel number(s): 02151760211100 PTN. SE NW SEC. 17, TWN. 2 N., R. 15 EWM. I. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, CLEAR RECON CORP, 601 West 1st Avenue, Suite 1400, Spokane, WA 99201, Trustee will on 2/13/2026 at 10:00 AM ON THE FRONT STEPS TO THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE KLICKITAT COUNTY COURTHOUSE LOCATED AT 205 WEST COLUMBUS AVENUE, GOLDENDALE, WA 98620 sell at public auction to the highest and best bidder, payable, in the form of cash, or cashier’s check or certified checks from federally or State chartered banks, at the time of sale, the following described real property, situated in the County of Klickitat, State of Washington, to-wit: A PARCEL OF LAND IN SECTION 17, TOWNSHIP 2 NORTH, RANGE 15 EAST, OF THE WILLAMETTE MERIDIAN, IN THE COUNTY OF KLICKITAT AND STATE OF WASHINGTON, DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE WEST LINE OF SAID SECTION 17 AND THE CENTER LINE OF THE BURLINGTON NORTHERN AND SANTA FE RAILWAY’S MAIN TRACK; THENCE NORTH 65° 14’ 25” EAST, 1,014.80 FEET ALONG SAID CENTER LINE; THENCE NORTH 24° 45’ 35” WEST, 50.00 FEET, TO THE RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF SAID RAILWAY; THENCE NORTH 65° 14’ 25” EAST, ALONG SAID RIGHT OF WAY, 1,470.44 FEET; THENCE NORTH 20° 54’ 53” WEST, 120.70 FEET; THENCE NORTH 67° 51’ 52” EAST 99.64 FEET, TO THE TRUE POINT OF BEGINNING; THENCE SOUTH 21° 25’ 28” EAST, 116.49 FEET, TO SAID RIGHT OF WAY; THENCE ALONG A 6,925.55 FOOT RADIUS CURVE, THE LONG CHORD OF WHICH BEARS NORTH 66° 04’ 42” EAST, 49.50 FEET; THENCE NORTH 21° 08’ 59” WEST, 114.96 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 67° 51’ 52” WEST 50.00 FEET, TO THE TRUE POINT OF BEGINNING. ALSO KNOWN AS PARCEL E111 HAGES SURVEY RECORDED FEBRUARY 5, 1998, IN BOOK 10, PAGE 565, AUDITOR’S FILE NO. 1002655, KLICKITAT COUNTY SURVEY RECORDS Commonly known as: 110 RAILROAD AVE WISHRAM, WA 98673 AKA 110 RAILROAD ST WISHRAM, WA 98673 which is subject to that certain Deed of Trust dated 9/7/2022, recorded 9/12/2022, as Auditor’s File No. 1156347, Deed of Trust Re-Recorded on 09/14/2022

as Instrument No. 1156384, records of Klickitat County, Washington, from MARTHA NINOTTI, AN UNMARRIED WOMAN, as Grantor(s), to AMERITITLE, INC, as Trustee, to secure an obligation in favor of RIVERMARK COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION , as Beneficiary, the beneficial interest in which was assigned to N/A, under an Assignment recorded under Auditor’s File No N/A. II. No action commenced by the Beneficiary of the Deed of Trust or the Beneficiary’s successor is now pending to seek satisfaction of the obligation in any Court by reason of the Borrower’s or Grantor’s default on the obligation secured by the Deed of Trust/Mortgage. III. The default(s) for which this foreclosure is made is/are as follows: Failure to pay when due the following amounts which are now in arrears: $9,296.11 IV. The sum owing on the obligation secured by the Deed of Trust is: The principal sum of $139,637.84, together with interest as provided in the Note from 3/1/2025, and such other costs and fees as are provided by statute. V. The above described real property will be sold to satisfy the expense of sale and the obligation secured by the Deed of Trust as provided by statute. Said sale will be made without warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession or encumbrances on 2/13/2026. The defaults referred to in Paragraph III must be cured by 2/2/2026, (11 days before the sale date) to cause a discontinuance of the sale. The sale will be discontinued and terminated if at any time before 2/2/2026 (11 days before the sale) the default as set forth in Paragraph III is cured and the Trustee’s fees and costs are paid. Payment must be in cash or with cashiers or certified checks from a State or federally chartered bank. The sale may be terminated any time after the 2/2/2026 (11 days before the sale date) and before the sale, by the Borrower or Grantor or the or the Grantor’s successor interest or the holder of any recorded junior lien or encumbrance by paying the principal and interest secured by the Deed of Trust, plus costs, fees and advances, if any, made pursuant to the terms of the obligation and/or Deed of Trust and curing all other defaults. VI. A written Notice of Default was transmitted by the Beneficiary or Trustee to the Borrower and Grantor at the following address(es): SEE ATTACHED EXHIBIT “1” by both first class and certified mail on 8/25/2025, proof of which is in the possession of the Trustee; and the Borrower and Grantor were personally served, if applicable, with said written Notice of Default or the written Notice of Default was posted in a conspicuous place on the real property described in Paragraph I above, and the Trustee has possession of proof of such service or posting. VII. The Trustee whose name and address are set forth below will provide in writing to anyone requesting it, a statement of all costs and fees due at any time prior to the sale.

GIBSON TRACTOR: Large garden tractor, made in the 1920s (?) New tires and gas tank, runs great, plow to fit 509-250-6154 make an offer. MISC ITEMS: 8’ & 10’ USED TPOSTS. Tractor Auger: 12” 3 point. 30-4,000 BTU propane space heaters 1 used once, 1 still in the box. Treated 8ft 2x4’s Call for pricing 509-2501776 (2.18)

BEEF JERSEY BEEF! ¼ AND ½ AVAILABLE. Delivered in the Gorge mattchiles@ horseshoebendranch.net Matt at 509-250-3755.

PETS FREE GOLDEN RETRIEVER PUPPIES To Forever Homes due to relocating: 1 Male, 1 Female, Preferably email me first at: stephaniechristensen59@gmail. com before Text (352) 5332411.

MARKETPLACE

$500 OR LESS RECLINER, new in box. Yaheetech black recliner, comfortable and sturdy. $130 509-773-3245

VIII. The effect of the sale will be to deprive the Grantor and all those who hold by, through or under the Grantor of all their interest in the above-described property. IX. Anyone having any objections to this sale on any grounds whatsoever will be afforded an opportunity to be heard as to those objections if they bring a lawsuit to restrain the sale pursuant to RCW 61.24.130. Failure to bring such a lawsuit may result in a waiver of any proper grounds for invalidating the Trustee’s sale. X. NOTICE TO OCCUPANTS OR TENANTS – The purchaser at the trustee’s sale is entitled to possession of the property on the 20th day following the sale, as against the grantor under the Deed of Trust (the owner) and anyone having an interest junior to the Deed of Trust, including occupants who are not tenants. After the 20th day following the sale the purchaser has the right to evict occupants who are not tenants by summary proceedings under chapter 59.12 RCW. For tenant-occupied property, the purchaser shall provide a tenant with written notice in accordance with RCW 61.24.060. If you are a servicemember or a dependent of a servicemember, you may be entitled to certain protections under the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act and any comparable state laws regarding the risk of foreclosure. If you believe you may be entitled to these protections, please contact our office immediately. THIS NOTICE IS THE FINAL STEP BEFORE THE FORECLOSURE SALE OF YOUR HOME. You have only until 90 calendar days BEFORE the date of sale listed in this Notice of Trustee Sale to be referred to mediation. If this is an amended notice of Trustee Sale providing a 45 day notice of the sale, mediation must be requested no later than 25 calendar days before the date of sale listed in this amended Notice of Trustee Sale. DO NOT DELAY. CONTACT A HOUSING COUNSELOR OR AN ATTORNEY LICENSED IN WASHINGTON NOW to assess your situation and refer you to mediation if you are eligible and it may help you save your home. See below for safe sources of help. SEEKING ASSISTANCE Housing counselors and legal assistance may be available at little or no cost to you. If you would like assistance in determining your rights and opportunities to keep your house, you may contact the following: The statewide foreclosure hotline for assistance and referral to housing counselors recommended by the Housing Finance Commission: Telephone: (877) 894-4663 Web site: www.homeownership. wa.gov Línea directa estatal sobre ejecuciones hipotecarias para obtener asistencia y derivación a asesores de vivienda recomendados por la Comisión de Financiamiento de Vivienda del estado de Washington (Housing Finance Commission): Teléfono: 1-877-894-HOME (1-877894-4663) Sitio web: www. homeownership-wa.org/ The United States Department of

6 DRAWER DESK used, blue pine desk, 58” long. Needs refinished. Free 541-490-4787

ROCK AND ROCK EQUIPMENT: 2 saws (18” & 24”) several tons of northwest rock. Call for pricing 509426-1100 REWARD $500 1997 Jeep Cherokee, emerald green. STOLEN from Wishram plate #199YHP. Any information contact 509-2811953 and leave a message. RE-HOMING Lhasa-Apso spayed 7 years old, Loving and protective. Moving and can’t keep 360-702-8124

FREE Electric Wheelchair, needs a battery 360-7028124

FIREWOOD – FREE – you cut and haul, Goldendale, Jim 541-980-4082

GENERATOR Coleman Powermate ProGen 5000 $500 used 509-250-6154

TOOLS Benchtop drill press $250, 16” delta scrollsaw $175. More – mechanic tools, hand tools, portable saws, etc 509-365-5203

METAL ROOFING, used, Brown 21’ legnths x 18” wide. $1.00 per foot 509773-3636

YARD EQUIP: pressure washer Karcher 2500 Honda motor $150. DR Walk

Housing and Urban Development: Telephone: (800) 5694287 Web site: answers.hud. gov/housingcounseling/s/ ?language =en_US Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de los Estados Unidos (Department of Housing and Urban Development): Teléfono: 1-800-569-4287 Sitio web: answers.hud.gov/ housingcounseling/ s/?language=en_US The statewide civil legal aid hotline for assistance and referrals to other housing counselors and attorneys: Telephone: (888) 201-1014 Web site: nwjustice.org Línea directa estatal de asistencia legal civil para obtener asistencia y derivaciones a otros asesores devivienda y abogados: Teléfono: 1-800-6064819 Sitio web: nwjustice.org

THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Dated: SEP 26, 2025 CLEAR RECON CORP, as Successor Trustee Monica Chavez, Authorized Signor For additional information or service you may contact: Clear Recon Corp 601 West 1st Avenue, Suite 1400 Spokane, WA 99201 Phone: (206) 707-9599

EXHIBIT “1”

NAME/ADDRESS

Martha Ann Ninotti 110 Railroad Ave, Wishram, WA 98673

Martha Ann Ninotti 110 Railroad St, Wishram, WA 98673

Martha Ninotti PO Box 188, Wishram, WA 98673 (0210, 0508)

PUBLIC NOTICE

Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway proposes to install a 100-ft-tall communications tower in their railroad right-of-way in Klickitat County at (latitude, longitude) 45.691028, -121.282972, which will be licensed through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). As part of its responsibilities assigned by FCC for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), BNSF invites the public to notify BNSF of any effects the placement of this tower may have on properties listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, or any concerns the public may have with regard to the potential impact the tower may have on natural and cultural resources subject to NEPA or NHPA review and consideration. Please direct your comments to Jennifer Schwaller at HDR, 10450 Holmes Rd, Suite 600, Kansas City, MO 64131 or jennifer.schwaller@ hdrinc.com. Comments must be received within 10 days of this notice. (0509)

PUBLIC NOTICE

Small Works Roster and Vendor List

Klickitat County Rural 7 Fire & Rescue For 2026

Klickitat County Rural 7 Fire & Rescue is updating its Small Works Roster and Vendor List for the year 2026. Contractors and suppliers who would

like to be included, can pick up applications from Klickitat County Rural 7 Fire & Rescue at 327 W Brooks St, Goldendale, WA 98620, on our website at klickitatcountyrural7fireandrescue.org or can request an application to be emailed or faxed by calling 509-773-4246 or emailing rural7@rural7.com. Completed applications can be placed in our drop box, returned by email or faxed to 509-4951590.

(0510, 0604)

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING SERVICES for Centerville School District

Submittal Deadline: February 18, 2026, at 3:00 pm

Centerville School District is requesting SOQ’s from interested parties capable of providing professional consulting services related to geotechnical engineering, environmental/hazardous material consulting, SEPA Consultant, Cultural Resource Consultant, Building Envelope, Survey and special inspections and testing, for an upcoming Rural Modernization Grant Project. Download the complete RFQ at https://www. centervilleschool.org. (0511, 0605)

SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR CLARK COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF DONNIE R. HUNT, Deceased. Case No. 26-4-00111-06

PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS

RCW 11.40.020, .030 Bobby L. Hunt has been appointed as personal representative (“personal representative”) of this estate. Any person having a claim against the decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the personal representative or the personal representative’s attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the court in which the probate proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) 30 days after the personal representative served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(1)(c); or (2) four months after the date of first publication of the notice. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 and RCW 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and nonprobate assets.

Date of First Publication: January 30, 2026

Personal Representative: Bobby L. Hunt

Attorney for the Personal Representative: Jakob O. Seegmuller Address for Mailing c/o NW Legacy Law, P.S. or Service:

1003 Officers Row Vancouver, WA 98661

Court of probate proceeding: Clark County Superior Court Cause number: 26-4-00111-06

Jakob O. Seegmuller, WSBA No. 53860

Attorney for Personal Representative NW Legacy Law, P.S. 1003 Officers Row Vancouver, WA 98661 (0512, 0606, 0704)

SHERIFF’S PUBLIC NOTICE OF SALE OF REAL PROPERTY IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF KLICKITAT. SHERIFF’S PUBLIC NOTICE OF SALE OF REAL PROPERTY. LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC Plaintiff v. JASON GATES ERWIN, SARA ANNE ERWIN; THE WASHINGTON STATE HOUSING FINANCE COMMISSION, SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, OCCUPANTS OF THE PROPERTY OF 609 5th Ave, Dallesport, Washington 98617, Defendants, No. 25-2-00096-20. TO: Jason Gates Erwin, Sara Anne Erwin, The Washington State Housing Finance Commission, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 609 5th Ave, Dallesport, Washington 98617. The Superior Court of Klickitat County has directed the undersigned Sheriff of Klickitat County to sell the properties legally described as follows to satisfy a judgment in the above entitled action: Property Description: Street address: 609 5th Ave, Dallesport, Washington 98617. Legal Description: LOT 5 AND THE SOUTHEASTERLY HALF OF LOT 6, BLOCK 1, DALLESPORT ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED JUNE 4, 1946 IN BLOCK 3, PAGE 19, AUDITORS FILE NO. 31814, KLICKITAT COUNTY PLAT RECORDS, IN THE COUNTY OF KLICKITAT AND STATE OF WASHNGTON. Assessor’s Property Tax Parcel/Account Number: 02133360010500. The sale of the above described properties is to take place: TIME: 10:00 A.M. DATE: March 4, 2026, PLACE: Klickitat County Courthouse. The Judgment Debtor can avoid the sale by paying the judgment amount of $355,448.98, together with interest, costs and fees, before the sale date. For the exact amount, contact the Sheriff’s office at the address stated below. KLICKITAT COUNTY SHERIFF, 205 S Columbus, Room 108, Goldendale, WA 98620, 509-7734455. (0513, 0607, 0704, 0803) NOTICE OF MEETING The South Central Workforce Full Board of Directors Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at SCW, 1205 Ahtanum Ridge Dr., Suite B, Union Gap, WA or via Zoom; https:// us02web.zoom.us/j/8838564 9195?pwd=JiOcMPLDKTLyX iwDY10vqiURfKOUpu.1 (0514)

behind string trimmer B&G 8.25 motor $150 503-5155665

BIKE EQUIP Stationary bike trainer, Deuter MT-04, use your won bike $40 503-5155665

FIREWOOD free (rounds) for anyone in need. Columbus Avenue Baptist Church crew will load for you. Please call Ric Stone at 509-250-1332 for details and appointment.

FRESHLY CUT and limbed pine logs, FREE, on Box Canyon Rd 509-773-4497

RECLINER in good shape

$50 509-773-4497

P225/60R17 TIRES, legal tread $10/ea 509-261-2758

RC CARS, 1 electric 1 fuel powered, + extras $100 each OBO 509-773-5494

FISHING REELS 3 unused, make an offer 509-773-5494

CHROME RIMS. Ford 6 lug. $100 or B/O. 509-773-5227. SLIDE-IN STOVE. Samsung double oven, propane/ gas. $250 or B/O. 509-7735227. 2 SOAPSTONE rocks for carving $25 each 509-2612115 HARLEY DAVIDSON vest and chaps, LIKE NEW $125 for the set 509-261-2115

MOTOR HOIST – 2 ton $125 509-393-6230 QUART CANNING JARS –2 dozen @ $12/dozen 509773-5666 PROPANE TORCHES, 4, 2 with hoses, & 1 oxy-propane torch with many accouterments $75 STIHL 18” MS290 chainsaw with Oregon skiptooth chain $300 907-252-1593 Announcements & Notices

ATTENTION READERS: Readers respond to ads at their own risk. If in doubt about a particular offer, check with the Better Business Protection Agency @ 503-3784320 before investing any money. This publication assumes no liability over advertisers.

Classified Deadlines: MONDAY 9AM Mid-Week Editions: Loans IT’S ILLEGAL for companies doing business by phone to promise you a loan and ask you to pay for it before they deliver. A public service message from the Federal Trade Commission and Columbia Gorge News. Support Groups GRIEF SUPPORT Establishing a Grief Support Group. Please call Natasha 702-755-0778 RECOVERING COUPLES ANONYMOUS Meets 2nd & 4th Sundays at 10am. 216 Cascade St., Suite

c lassifieds

24 HOUR AA HOTLINE and meeting information: District 14. 1-833-423-3683

RIVERVIEW Al-Anon Family Group in The Dalles: Episcopal Church of St. Paul, 1805 Minnesota, Taylor Hall. Meets every Thursday, 12:30-1:30pm. This meeting is free and open to anyone in the community who is interested in attending.

NA MEETINGS

Every Wednesday. 6:30 - 7:30 at the Casa Guadalupe House, 1603 Belmont, Hood River, Oregon. Alcoholicos Anonimos Reuniones

Jueves 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm St. Paul Episcopal Church 1805 Minnesota St. The Dalles, OR 97058

NAMI|Oregon National Alliance on Mental Illness

NAMI is the largest education, support and advocacy organization on mental health in the nation. The Mission of NAMI Oregon is to improve the quality of life of persons with mental illness and of their famillies through support, education and advocacy.

Under NAMI Oregon sponsorship, NAMI-Gorge providees a monthly support group meeting for caregivers, friends, and family members of persons with mental illness.

Monthly NAMI Gorge inperson meetings are being conducted the first Thursday of every month from 6 to 7:30pm at the Gloria Center at 2505 W. 7th Street, The Dalles. For information on local NAMI Resources, please contact Barbara Telfer: at 541-980-7264 or by email: booklovinbarbarian@gmail.com. For other NAMI information or resources: NAMI Oregon Support Line 1-800-3436264.

AA in WAMIC (open): Tuesdays

TIRES.

ing $475. 541-340-1766. WANT to sell something in the Budget Classifieds section? If you’re selling ONE item for $500 for less, we’ll place your five-line ad for free for one week! See the $500 or Less Box for exclusions. Call our newspaper to place your ad: Columbia Gorge News 541-386-1234

MOVING Boxes from Home Depot. 25 small (12”x10”x16”), 27 medium (15”x16”x20” and 11 large (15”x16”x26”). $1 each. 310980-0055.

JACOB Doll Antique Upright Piano. Needs to be cleaned and tuned. Free. You Haul. 541-806-0859.

Miscellaneous

MOVING Boxes from Home Depot. 25 small (12”x10”x16”), 27 medium (15”x16”x20”and 11 large (15”x16”x26”). = $1 each. 310-980-0055.

Sporting Goods NOTICE

Certain laws and restrictions, as well as registration requirements, apply to the sale of firearms. For more information, contact the Seattle Field Division of the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms at 206204-3205. This field division is responsible for Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Alaska and Hawaii. You may also go to www.atf.gov for FAQs and information.

Dogs PUPPIES. Happy & healthy, born 11/7/25. 2 males, 1 female. Beautiful mid-sized Australian Shepard/ Collie Mix. Photos available. 541399-3113.

Auctions SILENT AUCTION

on the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30-6:30pm. Support group participants have all lost someone to suicide and strive to help each other with their grief journeys and advocate for suicide prevention. Contact Brent and Shawnee at bsemmons@hrecn.net or 541-806-2790.

STROKE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP Mid Columbia Senior Center 1112 W 9th Street The Dalles 3rd Thursday of the month 1:30pm-3pm Questions, 541-980-8633 YOUNG Parents Support Group: ages 15-21, Tuesdays @ 7pm, call Tess @ 541-298-5104.

Volunteers Gorge Youth Mentoring (G.Y.M.) a program of The Next Door, is seeking a positive, adult role model for a 12-year-old girl in The Dalles, who enjoys arts and crafts, animals, and going for walks. She has been waiting to spend a couple days a month with a mentor who could get her out of the house and expose her to more outdoor activities. For more information on how to get involved with G.Y.M.,

Dufur Mini Storage & Laundromat Silent Auction Stark # Unit 59 February 6 at 11am 50 NE Aikin Street, Dufur OR Garage/Yard Sales Advertise Your Garage Sale Up to 10 lines Print and Online $25 Prepaid To place your ad contact us. Columbia Gorge News 541-386-1234 ColumbiaGorgeNews.com Click Classifieds Estate Sales ESTATE SALE IN LYLE Saturday, Feb. 7 Only!

children under 19. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any adverting for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll-free at 1-800669-9777, TTY/TDD: 1-800927-9275.

Help Wanted NOW HIRING FOSTER PARENTS!

The Next Door, Inc. (TNDI) is hiring full-time foster parents to work with youth, ages 6-18. Applicants must live in Hood River or Wasco Counties. TNDI provides 24-hour support, free training, paid days-off and up to $1800 tax-free/month, for each youth. Bonus also offered for completion of certification! Contact 541308-2207 or visit www.nextdoorinc.org/fosterparent to apply.

TUESDAY DELIVERY

DRIVER • Approximately 6 hour shift from 7am1pm • Company Van Provided Local newspaper delivery driver needed on Tuesdays. Job is to pick up delivery in Hood River early morning and take to post offices and then deliver to all newsstands and stores in The Dalles. Company van provided. The delivery driver oversees weekly delivery of the newspaper and keeping newsstands in clean and good working conditions. Must have clean driving record with valid local driver’s license. Requires the need to drive-in all-weather conditions. Ability to easily lift 25lbs required. Minimum wage, part time. To inquire send job history and references to: ChelseaM@Gorgenews.com or call 541-386-1234 ext. 100. Address: Columbia Gorge News, 1812 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031.

LOOKING for a new job? Browse employment ads from throughout the Gorge on our classified website: ColumbiaGorgeNews.com

MARKETING SALES

REPRESENTATIVE

Columbia Gorge News is seeking a sales and marketing representative for the news media territory. Sales experience preferred. Candidate should have the ability to meet multiple deadlines, communicate clearly and effectively, be outgoing and have the ability to want to work with a variety of customers. Small businesses are the heart of our clients, and the job will require travel to businesses throughout The Gorge area. Office and remote work available. Weekly newspaper sales, niche print publications and online website are many of the products to market. Pay will be hourly during 60-day training and work towards salary and commissions. PTO/retirement match. Health insurance not currently available. Full or part time offered. Contact publisher, ChelseaM@GorgeNews.com to apply.

SIX RIVERS DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTER IS HIRING!

Six Rivers Dispute Resolution Center is hiring for 2 positions: Services Coordinator $28-$28.75/hr with benefits, 32 hours a week

Restorative Justice Facilitator, $28-$28.75/hr with benefits, 32 hours a week

For more info: https://6rivers.org/jobs/ Contact: colleenr@6rivers. org, 541 386 1283 x 3

eling,

COLUMBIA

GORGE NEW IS HIRING AN OUTSIDE MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE

Outside Marketing Representative: Columbia Gorge News is hiring a marketing advisor to service businesses in the area. This position is outside sales for the weekly newspaper in print and online plus niche publications. You must live in the Columbia River Gorge to perform this job. If you are outgoing and like to talk through ideas, this position is for you. The candidate will work from both home and the office. They will need reliable internet, computer, and a smart phone. A vehicle and valid driver’s license with insurance is a must. The candidate will work one on one with small businesses in our community to help them find ways to effectively market their business. The sales position will allow the person hired to work their own schedule to fit the needs of the customers. Weekly sales meetings and trainings required. Must have the ability to multi-task and be self-motivated. The ability to handle basic excel or word documents, perform math calculations and the willingness to communicate well with customers in person and over the phone are needed. Sales experience a plus but will train the right candidate. This position is mainly Mon-Fri but is somewhat flexible with part-time or full-time hours. Hourly, mileage, plus commissions. Email resume and references to: ChelseaM@GorgeNews.com Columbia Gorge News P.O. Box 390, Hood River, OR 97031. If you have questions, leave a message: 541-386-1234 Ext. 100.

POSTSECONDARY PATHWAYS ADVISER

We are hiring a Postsecondary Pathways Adviser to serve students in Klickitat County. This position supports equitable access to postsecondary advising, planning, career exploration, and work-based learning experiences aligned with each school’s unique needs and the region’s workforce opportunities. Full-time, 240 days per year. $57,945.17 - $70,501.87 annual. Apply online: www.esd112.org/ takeroot

THE TICKET to a dream job might be a scam. Please be cautious! High-Paying Postal Jobs! No Experience Required! Don’t pay for information about jobs with the Postal Service or Federal Government. Call the Federal Trade Commission toll free @ 1-877-FTC-HELP, or visit www.ftc.gov to learn more. A public service message from Teh Dalles Chronicle and the FTC. Air Conditioning & Heating Business & Service Directory 4 Weeks Up to 10 Lines Print and Online Only $45 $5 per additional line. Contact your local newspaper or place your ad online using our fact and easy online entry system. hoodrivernews.com 541-386-1234 thedallechronicle.com 541-296-2141 whitesalmonenterprise. com 509-493-2112

STATEWIDE

Check It Out

Beth Wood, Collection Librarian

Fort Vancouver Regional Library District

Contact Beth Wood with questions about this column: 360-906-4996 or bwood@fvrl.org

Armchair

(Family Features)

Picture

this: Your team is down three points, but the taste of victory is just one field goal away. Sometimes, all you need is a little luck and a whole lot of guac.

After all, an estimated 250 million pounds of avocados are consumed during the Big Game each year, according to Hass Avocado Board Volume Data. That’s enough to fill 30 million football helmets with guac – but filling your belly instead is a win-win for good luck and great flavor.

Dip into good fortune this football season with help from Avocado From Mexico’s Guac Guru, Rob Riggle, whose visionary Good Luck Guac recipe is ready to share just in time for the Big Game. Whether you’re in it for the football, the commercials or the snacks, this recipe can score major points with your entire crew. Crafted for fans of every team, this bold, golden twist on a favorite football snack is infused with ingredients associated with good luck – edible gold flakes and pomegranate seeds – to get you through the most nail-biting moments of the game. The star ingredient is fresh, high-quality Avocados From Mexico that offer good taste, good nutrition, and good times. Beyond delicious dips, chips and lots of fun, hosting a watch party can also be a lot of work. Make sure your hosting duties

national animal of Peru is the vicuña, which produces some of the world’s most expensive wool. Llamas and alpacas are also native animals. Did you know potatoes come from Peru? They have over 3500 varieties! Ceviche originated in Peru, and Peru is the world’s top exporter of asparagus. Make some ceviche, or learn more history:

• “Ceviche Peruvian Kitchen” by Martin Morales (2013)

• “Peru: The Cookbook” by Gastón Acurio (2015)

• “Daily Life in the Incan Empire” by Michael A. Malpass (2009)

• “The Last Days of the Incas” by Kim MacQuarrie (2007)

• “Lost City of the Incas” by Hiram Bingham (orig. pub. 1952)

• “Mother of God” by Paul Rosolie (2014)

• “The Shining Path: Love, Madness and Revolution in the Andes” by Orin Starn & Miguel La Serna (2019)

Mario Vargas Llosa, noted Peruvian author who won a Nobel Prize in literature for his body of work, died in 2025 at age 89. The library has English translations of several of his books, as well as books by other Peruvian authors.

don’t create interference or put you on the sidelines with these tips: Get a jumpstart on party prep. The day before the game, tidy up your space and prepare as much of the food as you can. For dishes best served fresh – like guac – take care of the ingredient prep, like chopping veggies. Create comfortable seating and viewing areas. For a watch party, you’ll want plenty of room for guests to sit comfortably where they can see the screen and have easy access to the guac. If there’s not enough space in the living room to fit everyone, consider bringing a TV to the kitchen so people can snack and watch at the same time.

Know your guests. From non-alcoholic beverage options to additional entertainment like board games and kid-friendly activities, become a next-level party host by providing a setup tailored to your guests’ needs.

• “Conversation in the Cathedral” (orig. pub. 1969)Llosa described this book as his masterwork because of his difficulty in writing it.

• “Death in the Andes” (trans. 1996)

• “The Discreet Hero” (trans. 2015)

Other authors

• “Cesar Vallejo: The Complete Posthumous Poetry” by César Vallejo (1980)

• “The King is Always Above the People: Stories” by Daniel Alarcón (2017)

• “Undiscovered” by Gabriela Wiener (2023)

Set in Peru

• “The Gold Eaters” by Ronald Wright (2015) - A young Incan boy is captured by conquistadors and becomes a translator during important historical events

• “Inés of My Soul” by Isabel Allende (2006) - Follows the story of Inés Suárez during the Spanish conquest of Peru

Beth Wood is a senior collection development librarian for Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries. Email her at readingforfun@fvrl.org.

One thing almost everyone can agree on: Guac made with Avocados From Mexico can be the star of nearly any party’s snacking lineup. Make it your team’s lucky day with more game day recipes at AvocadosFromMexico.com/ recipe.

Good Luck Guac

Recipe courtesy of Rob Riggle on behalf of Avocados

From Mexico • 4 Avocados From Mexico, halved, pitted and peeled

• 1 tablespoon lime juice

• 1 tablespoon onion, minced

• 3 tablespoons pomegranate

seeds

1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 pinch edible gold leaf

flakes

In large bowl, mash avocados until chunky-smooth. Fold in lime juice, onion, pomegranate seeds and salt until well combined.

Garnish with edible gold leaf flakes.

New at the Library

FICTION

“Between Good and Evil” by Rochelle Alers

“Remember That Day” by Mary Balogh

“Meet the Newmans” by Jennifer Niven NONFICTION

“Ursula K. Le Guin’s Book of Cats” by Ursula K. Le Guin

“Vegetable Genius: 200 Clever Recipes for Snacks, Starters, Mains, and More” by Anna Berrill

“The Burning Earth: A History” by Sunil Amrith

CHILDREN

“Do I Love You? Yes I Do!” by Ruth Forman

“My One-of-a-Kind Body” by Whitney Casares

“Sparrow, Always” by Gail Donovan

This is just a small sampling of the many new titles added each week to the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District collection. Visit the district’s 15 locations, our website at www.fvrl.org, or call (360) 906-5000 to reserve titles or find additional listings.

There’s a reason I don’t write about current events. The news flies at me faster than I can absorb. I cannot make sense of it all, and it feels as if I should always be doing something more, knowing more, helping more than I am.

The parable in the Bible that made the biggest impact on me as a child was the story Jesus told of how, when the master went away, he gave his servants talents to safeguard. Of course, in the literal sense, a talent was a large amount of money, but as a child, I took it to mean exactly as the parable implied—some kind of ability I might have.

I didn’t want to be that servant who stuck his talents in the ground and did nothing with them. Those talents didn’t do any good. They didn’t grow. They didn’t help anyone. I promised myself (at eight or nine years old) I wouldn’t make the mistake of that foolish servant. I’d make use of whatever I’d been given. In the years since I was eight or nine, I’ve come to realize this is not as easy as it sounds. Every single person has more talents than they know what to do with. The trick is deciding what to do with whatever we have and using it wisely in whatever time we are given.

Every day, I see a multitude of people who seem to be doing a lot more than I do. And this morning, again, I wondered if I was doing enough to make the world more livable, kinder, more loving. This morning, I had the very strong impression that I was not. So I went to church. It was cold and gray, and I was grumpy. But I figured those

were good reasons to go to church rather than stay at home. Once I got there, I was surrounded by folks who seemed busy doing the things they felt they needed to do—using their talents to the best of their abilities. I genuinely felt lost. I wondered if I was the only one who felt so confused. We got all the way to the benediction before I felt any clarity at all.

“We will seek the good,” the benediction said.

It said a few other things, but that phrase, “seek the good,” stuck with me because, for the first time in several days, I felt as if maybe there was something I could do.

I could seek the good—in every person I encounter, in every interaction I have, within the hearts and minds of the folks I might not agree with. I can seek the good. It doesn’t sound like a lot. It seems like a pretty simple thing, actually, not a serious job assignment. It doesn’t sound entirely sensible, and it certainly doesn’t sound pragmatic. But I’m going to seek the good because this morning, it suddenly seemed to me that making a practice of seeking the good is a lot harder than it seems. And possibly, it’s more important than it sounds. It is so easy to lose hope. It is so easy to become deeply cynical. It’s easy to explain what is wrong with others and what is wrong with ourselves, and there are a lot of people who do that well.

But right now, when there is no shortage of anger or fear or cynicism, I’m going to try to seek the good instead—the good I know is all around me—sometimes in plain sight, sometimes in places I forget to look.

To see photos,check out CarrieClassonAuthor on Facebook or visit CarrieClasson.com.

If you are walking through South or Southeast Asia, in the jungles, wetlands or anywhere where the air is warm and the ground is squishy, you may be lucky enough to see one of the strangest cats on Earth. Keep your eyes open for a cat that breaks all the cat rules. You may be fighting off swarms of mosquitos when you see a camouflaged shadow slinking around. That shadow may just be a fishing cat — a cat that will change your mind about cats being just pets.

One of the most amazing characteristics of this cat is its love for water. Yes, you heard that right, this cat doesn’t hate water. It is even built to live in areas that have wetlands. This cat would make most domestic cats faint and spotting this wild cat would be one of the luckiest moments of your life.

The soggy feline is shy and mostly nocturnal. The fishing cat lives in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Thailand. Places with muddy, humid, areas that smell a little like fish and a little like rotting vegetation. Fishing cats are excellent swimmers, and they aren’t afraid to dunk their whole face underwater and dive deep to catch food — no fishing pole required. Sometimes the sneaky feline will tap the water with its paw to trick fish into coming closer. While the fish thinks dinner is waiting, the fishing cat is ready to snap it up. Their favorite food is fish, but they also eat frogs, small animals, birds and crabs.

FishingCats Cats

These water-loving cats are stocky and strong, making them look like an athlete that has been hitting the gym. They have adapted over time. Their toes are partially webbed and they have sharp claws that act like fish hooks. Their fur is grayish with dark spots and stripes, and they blend perfectly with the shadows and reeds making them hard to see. Their fur coat has two layers that helps them stay dry. When a fishing cat swims or dives, it pulls its small, rounded ears tight against its head to help close off the ear opening so less water can get inside. Keeping water out of their ears helps protect their hearing and prevents infections. This adaptation is super important because they rely on sound to hunt, especially since they are nocturnal and seeing prey that lives underwater is not easy.

Parents and teachers! Visit our website to find teaching materials about fishing cats!

This fishing cat has been chasing this fish for a while. Help him catch his next meal! Or, help the fish sneak away while the cat is not looking by going the other direction!

How do cats fish without fishing poles? Find out by watching these videos on our website!

The fishing cat proves that not all cats are the same. Some chase laser dots and sleep on cat trees, while others chase fish in a swamp. With its swimming skills, clever tricks, and “I love water” attitude, the fishing cat is like the action hero of the cat world. So next time someone says, “Cats hate water,” you can smile knowingly and say, “Well, not all of them.”