Headlines & History since 1879 Goldendale, Washington
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2026
Vol. 147 No. 24
Hobbs bring trade consuls to Goldendale Rodger Nichols For The Sentinel When Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs visited Goldendale June 9, he brought with him consuls representing other countries in Washington and Oregon including representatives of Mexico, Japan, India, and Lithuania. The event was described as a reverse trade mission to expose the consuls to some of the products produced in Klickitat County. The event was organized by former Goldendale City Council member, Bickleton wheat farmer, and longtime volunteer firefighter Miland Walling. Their journey
Jerry Fitzgerald, CEO of Mercer Ranches; Jonathan Lewis of Klickitat Valley Health; and Chad Ross with Iron Guard Housing. After lunch, included a visit everyone had Monday night a chance to adto the Goldendress the group. dale ObservaHere are some tory. of the remarks Joining them worth noting. for lunch at MaHobbs said it’s ryhill Museum time to replace were a number confrontation Contributed of local leaders. with collaboraA partial list HOBBS AT MARYHILL: Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs ad- tion: “When I included State mires a work of art at Maryhill Museum last Tuesday. served in KosoRep. Kevin Wavo and Iraq, I ters, Gov. Bob Ferguson’s South- endale Mayor Dave Jones, former had to go as an infantry officer, west Washington representative Goldendale mayors Mike Canon to these little communities that John Anderson, Klickitat PUD and Mark Sigfrinius, former have completely different culGeneral Manager Gwyn Miller, County Commissioner Dave Sau- tures, ideas, and sometimes reKlickitat PUD commissioner Dan ter, now with the Port of Klickitat; ligions. Because they didn’t talk Gunkel of Gunkel Orchards, Gold- Erik Stemlie of Rye Development; to the other people, it was just ha-
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tred and partisanship. We can’t be like that. And that’s why I came out here to hear from you and see what I can do in my office to help you.” Carlos Quesnel is the Mexican Consul General based in Portland, but his territory also covers Clark, Klickitat, and Skamania counties. “We have a very strong trade with Washington,” he said. “It was $5.5 billion in 2025, involving petroleum, aerospace, and agricultural products. This creates around 110,000 jobs in Washington State, but we could be buying more.” Suresh Sharma of the Consulate General of India in Seattle noted there are 200,000 people of Indian origin in the greater Seattle area and that India primarily imported Washington apples. “But when we came here, we saw there’s a lot of potential from here,” he said, “Indians don’t know that Washington wine is so good in comparison to Napa and the French wine,
See Hobbs page A8
County recognizes Herlihy for 20 years in the air Rodger Nichols For The Sentinel
Washington Department of Ecology
FOREVER CHEMICALS: The issue with biosolids may boil down to chemicals in them (PFAS) that never break down.
Biosolids part 2: The biosolid divide Lorrie Fox For The Sentinel (This is the second in a series of stories on the use of biosolids— processed human waste—in the county.) The pungent scent that drifted across Centerville in recent weeks focused public attention on biosolids and their use on Klickitat County hay and wheat fields. Some local farmers view biosolids as a tool for improving soil health and crop production, while others view them as harmful to the environment, people, and animals, as statewide biosolids testing and restrictions continue to evolve. Since concerns first surfaced in the county, additional reporting and regulatory information has added context to the debate. A review of information from the 2024 (Biosolids) Annual Report from the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) obtained through a public records request includes Klickitat County records. Those records indicate biosolids from several wastewater treatment facilities were land-applied, sent to landfill, or transferred for further treatment within the county. Dave Bennett, communications manager for Ecology’s Solid Waste Management Program, added: • North Bend WWTP (wastewater treatment plant) in North Bend, King County, Washington, sent 91.12 dry tons to the Roosevelt [Regional] Landfill (in Roosevelt, WA) for disposal. “North Bend generated materials at about 16% solids content and transports it to Roosevelt for landfilling. There is no incineration occurring here. North Bend is not a Central Region facility,” said Benett. • Bingen/White Salmon WWTP (Klickitat County) sent 41 dry
tons for land application (pasture grass) on an agricultural site at Fernandez Ranch, in Centerville, Washington. “This facility no longer land applies. The last application was in 2024…” Bennett said. • Dallesport WWTP sent 8.12 dry tons from their own customers and received 8.12 dry tons from Lyle WWTP. According to Bennett, in total they sent one load of 16.24 dry tons of Class B biosolids to Natural Selection Farms BUF (beneficial use facility) for land application. • Klickitat WWTP sent 2.29 dry tons to Bishop Sanitation SMF (sludge management facility) for further treatment “into Class B biosolids,” Bennett noted. One dry ton is equal to 2,000 pounds of material at zero percent moisture content. According to a fifth-generation Klickitat County farmer who requested anonymity due to concerns about how his comments would be portrayed, the effects of biosolids are more apparent in the field than in the ongoing public and regulatory debate. The farmer, who has worked in agriculture since childhood and said he has training in crop and soil science, said biosolids have become an important part of his soil management practices. “The saying is a pound of biology is worth 10 of chemistry,” the farmer said, noting that biosolids provide a slow-release package of nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium that is not economically viable in standard synthetic fertilizers. His perspective is supported by long-term research from Washington State University (WSU), which has found that in semi-arid systems biosolids can, under certain conditions, improve soil water-holding capacity, enhance soil structure and reduce compaction, and increase soil organic carbon
See Biosolids page A8
At the Klickitat County Commissioners’ June 9 morning workshop, Public Works Director Jeff Hunter told commissioners that businesses qualified as small quantity generators of hazardous waste will no longer have disposal costs covered by a grant from the state Department of Ecology. “’They said, ‘We’re not paying for the businesses anymore,’” Hunter explained. “They’re still paying for the household stuff, but if we don’t take the businesses out, they pay for nothing. We had three choices. One, not provide any place for them, which I don’t feel is a very good option. Option two is the county picks up the cost, which I don’t think is fair either to the rest of the taxpayers. Or three, we let them pay the actual charges.” Senior Services Director Sharon Carter told commissioners someone had siphoned about a quarter tank of gas from one of the buses parked at the Pioneer Center in White Salmon. “That’s why we have usually tried to get locking gas caps on,” she said, “but with the newer buses, they’ve not been available
right away. The other drawback potentially with locking gas caps is sometimes people will bypass and cut the fuel line, and then you’ve got a lot more expensive repair than if they’re siphoning gas.” The morning session was bookended with a pair of executive sessions, one to evaluate the performance of an employee and one to consult with legal counsel. The formal afternoon session included thanks and best wishes to Doug Herlihy, the expert pilot who is leaving the county after 20 years. “I just wanted to thank you for the support that you guys have given me through flying for Sheriff Mays, Sheriff McComas, and Sheriff Songer,” Herlihy said. “Not to be self-aggrandizing, but I did fly 1,471 hours for the county and my dear wife has paid me my dues to do that.” Herlihy, a former National Transportation Advisory Board investigator and longtime expert witness in plane crash lawsuits, paid all his own expenses, donating his time for search and rescue, fire-spotting, finding illegal marijuana grows, and the like. Songer and others called him Air One and have called his help “invaluable.”
The main agenda item was a comprehensive presentation by Jay McLaughlin from Mount Adams Resource Stewards (MARS), who detailed his organization’s work in community-based forestry, wildfire mitigation through prescribed burning, and their role as a significant local employer. “We’ve completed about six different acquisitions, McLaughlin said, “with our first back in 2011 and we own a little over 1,800 acres at this point in time.” He also shared that MARS has grown over the years. “For better or for worse, MARS is now the largest employer in Glenwood.” he said. “I think we’re at 38 or 39 [employees] right now, at what used to be the Bureau of Indian Affairs Ranger Station there in Glenwood.” Under the consent agenda, commissioners approved: • A public meeting on Short Plat, SPL 2025-20, Verley • A public meeting on Short Plat, SPL 2024-10, Ferguson • Advertising for a legal administrative assistant I in the East District Court • Contract with the Area Agency on Aging & Disability Services of SW WA for benefits
See County page A8
Candidates night planned A candidates’ night for candidates running for office in Klickitat County is planned for Tuesday, July 21, at 6 p.m. at the Goldendale Grange. Candidates planning to be at the event include John Bruce, Dwayne Matulovich, and Tony Warren running for Klickitat County Sheriff; and Lori Zoller, Andrew L. Kallinen, and Gene Klejeski running for Klickitat
County Commissioner. The format for the evening will be timed responses to written questions, moderated by Scott Robinson. Each candidate will have three minutes for opening statements. Attendees will have the chance to write questions on forms to be submitted to the candidates. One question will be permitted per individual. Candidates will then have two minutes
to respond to questions. A request will be made to attendees to maintain a respectful attitude for all candidates. Support or opposition to any candidate should not be indicated with applause or shouting out from the audience. The evening is scheduled to be complete in two hours, leaving time for audience members to mingle with candidates.
Victor Baca for The Sentinel
GETTING THEIR DUCKS IN A ROW: Rubber ducks make their way toward the finish line on the Little Klickitat River Saturday during the annual Kiwanis Duck Derby. The turnout was strong for the fundraiser.