HEADLINES & HISTORY SINCE 1879
Goldendale, Washington
WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 2023
Vol. 144 No. 30
$1.00
Flames scorch eastern county
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
FIRE LINE: Middle Road stretches left to right in this photo. The burn line from the Newell Road Fire went right to the road’s edge. Firefighters were able to save homes on the lower side of the road and keep the fire from sweeping to the Lund Hill solar farm–the largest in Washington State–just across the road. At press time the fire had consumed 56,143 acres, was 20% contained, and was threatening Cleveland and Bickleton.
Ways to stay fire informed
PUD on fire safeguards
ZACHARY VILLAR FOR THE SENTINEL
A
s fire season rolls along, people in Klickitat County are doing their best to be prepared for a fire in their area. Part of that preparation is knowing where to find information about local fires so that you can stay aware of active fire situations. With the wealth of resources found on the internet, it can sometimes be difficult to know exactly where to go when you need updates on a fire. Having quick and ready access to that information can make all the difference in an emergency situation. The Sheriff’s Office has on their reception desk a stack of pamphlets with information on the Klickitat County Emergency Notification System. Useful for non-fire emergencies as well, signing up for this notification system allows Klickitat County to deliver emergency messages to you via text message, cell phone and landline calls, email, or TTY (TeleTYpe), TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf). “In Klickitat County we use an Emergency Notification System, called ‘RAVE’ which is completely free and is an essential part of staying safe,” states the Klickitat County website. “We can send out mass notification to anyone that could potentially be affected by an emergency situation. You can even list multiple addresses. Sign up and be informed so that you can keep yourself, your family, and your loved ones safe.” You can sign up for this at www.klickitatcounty.org/249/emergency-management. “The most important part of notifications is emergency alerts,” said Nicole Vincent, District Administrator of Klickitat County Rural 7 Fire & Rescue. “We get a lot of people who think they are automatically enrolled or wait until they are in harm’s way to try and get notices which is too late. They need to go to the Emergency Management website [listed in previous paragraph] and click on the big red phone or they can just
See Fire page A8
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ince the Newell Fire started on the afternoon of July 21, the Klickitat PUD (KPUD) has been working around the clock to ensure that customers have power and water, that wastewater systems are operational, and that our Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) facility is operating safely. KPUD staff has been in the field inspecting lines within the area of the fire, putting out burning poles and replacing damaged equipment 24/7. The main focus is ensuring customers in or near impacted areas have power, which means customers are able to run pumps and utilize water and keep the lights and air conditioner on. As of Monday morning, July 24, we only had five customers out of power and for a very short amount of time. KPUD crews are on-site to support firefighting efforts by de-energizing lines when necessary and re-energizing them as soon as possible. Additionally, staff prewired generators at water and wastewater treatment facilities near the fire area to ensure continuity of these essential services during this emergency. To ensure the safety of KPUD staff, we shut down the RNG facility when the fire was at its worst around the landfill. Thanks to firefighting efforts, the threat to the facility was reduced and it was brought back online within 6 hours. To support those working in the field, we have staff in the office and warehouse. We continue to plan and guide system inspections to ensure necessary repairs are made, while keeping everyone safe. Jim Smith states of the KPUD staff, “I am very proud of their dedication to looking after our customers.” He also elaborated on the pride he has for being a Klickitat County resident. “During times like this, everyone within the utility and community rallies
See KPUD page A8
Parks and Rec levy vote imminent
GPD holds active shooter exercise
JENNIFER SMITH FOR THE SENTINEL
GRACE BLAND FOR THE SENTINEL
Last Wednesday the Goldendale Middle School hosted the first active shooter training drill since COVID. The Goldendale Police Department (GPD) used to perform active shooter drills yearly, but with the schools closed during COVID, the department was unable to continue the annual training. Chief of Police Mike Smith has vocally been in support of having training simulations several times a year to prepare for all shooting threats. “I want to train for more active response,” he commented. The simulation at the Goldendale Middle School marks the first step in fulfilling these aspirations. The GPD, Goldendale Fire Department, Parks and Recreation, and Emergency Management Services all gathered at the middle school to work on quick and efficient responses to a school shooting threat. The training included three acting offenders and eight acting victims. The department practiced responding to four different scenarios, allowing the police to navigate the various approaches and the medical professionals to prepare for treating time-sensitive wounds. The training was conducted to be as realistic as possible, so the volunteer
KPUD STAFF FOR THE SENTINEL
CONTRIBUTED
STAYING READY: The Goldendale Police Department, partnering with the Goldendale Fire Department, Emergency Management Services, and County Parks and Rec, conducted a live shooter simulation last week at the Goldendale Middle School. victims wore white shirts with red streaks to simulate wounds, and the officers used simulation rounds of plastic bullets. By the end of the training, all depart-
ments were knowledgeable of the various response methods and were able to experience cohesively working together.
See Shooter page A8
Once every six years, Central Klickitat County Parks and Recreation District (CKCPRD) asks voters to approve a replacement Operations and Maintenance levy. The levy helps CKCPRD keep all of their activities running and keep costs as low as possible. This is not an additional levy. The current levy, approved by voters in 2017, ends December 2023, and the replacement levy, if approved, would start January 2024. To be approved, the levy needs to pass with a 60% supermajority. CKCPRD runs the Goldendale swimming pool, including swim lessons, water aerobics, lap swimming, and open/family swim, and they also manage youth summer camps, the community garden, youth soccer and football, and the Polar Plunge. In addition, CKCPRD has outdoor exercise stations, a disc golf course, walking trails, and is planning to install grass and sand volleyball courts. CKCPRD seeks to provide safe, affordable, and healthy activities and exercise options for all ages, not only in the Goldendale area, but throughout Klickitat County. The levy funds account for approximately 60% of operational costs, which is normal for a public parks and recreation district. “We wanted to keep the levy amount as low as possible,” said Amber Jackson, CKCPRD Board
vice-chair. “However, minimum wage has increased dramatically the past few years, materials and supplies costs have risen, and we’ve added new programs as well.” The current levy was based on 27 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. The replacement levy on the ballot August 1 will raise the cost by 2 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, to 29 cents per $1,000. For a home worth $200,000, that would be approximately $58 a year of taxes, or $4.83 a month. What happens if the levy doesn’t pass? “We would continue to operate our programs through the end of the year,” said Lori Anderson, swimming pool manager. “However, we wouldn’t open the pool next summer, or run the summer camps, or other youth activities. Lifeguards won’t have summer jobs, and kids won’t get swim lessons.” Currently, CKCPRD opens the swimming pool in midMarch and then has the Easter egg hunt in the water in early April, about the same time as gardeners are starting to put in their early crops in the community gardens. Swim lessons start after Spring Break so that kids are prepared to head to camp or summer vacations knowing how to swim. The air-supported cover comes off at the end of May, and summer hours start as soon as school ends in June. Registrations normally start in
See Levy page A8