HEADLINES & HISTORY SINCE 1879 Goldendale, Washington
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2025
Vol. 146 No. 42
$1.00
Proposed county sales tax gets resistance
Carrigar Solar project on cusp of approval JERRY CORNFIELD WASHINGTON STATE STANDARD A large solar farm proposed in eastern Washington appears on course to clear a critical regulatory hurdle this month, despite opposition from the Yakama Nation. After that, it would go for approval to Gov. Bob Ferguson, who has indicated a desire to see it proceed. In August, Ferguson rejected a recommendation to approve the Carriger Solar project from the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council. While he found the project “consistent with state policies,” he wanted the council to talk further with Yakama Nation leaders about their concerns for protecting cultural resources on and around the proposed location. Ferguson gave the council 60
days to report back but did not direct any specific changes to a site certification agreement between the developer and the state. This resulted in a revised agreement that the council will consider in a special meeting Oct. 21. If it is approved, it will go to the governor. There’s one substantive change. Cypress Creek Renewables, the firm behind the energy project, will provide $100,000 in grant funding to the Yakama Nation Cultural Resources Program for continued documentation of the archaeological and historical properties “in the vicinity” of the project. The money must be paid within the first 10 years of the project’s operation. The company supports the revised agreement and providing the grant funds, said Angeli Chandler, the firm’s director of communications.
She said there’d been “years of careful planning and siting to avoid impacts to environmental or cultural resources.” Yakama Nation officials who’ve opposed the project could not be immediately reached Tuesday. Cypress Creek Renewables, based in Santa Monica, California, wants to build the solar farm north of State Route 142 along Knight Road, about two miles west of Goldendale in unincorporated Klickitat County. As envisioned, it will have 160 megawatts of solar generating potential, enough to power up to 32,500 homes, according to the company website. The project, which also includes a 63 megawatt battery energy storage system, will tie into the Bonneville Power Administration transmission system.
See Solar page A8
New testimony adds detail to double homicide LOU MARZELES EDITOR In newly released court documents, a Yakama Nation employee has described what he witnessed on a remote road near Toppenish on the afternoon of March 16, 2023, moments after a loud explosion and rising smoke signaled that something had gone terribly wrong. The incident described was the tail end of a grisly double homicide in Klickitat County that occurred that morning. It began with the execution-style murder of two people, later identified as residents of Yakima, at a remote spot near the end of Box Canyon Road about 17 miles northwest of Goldendale. The killers then
loaded the bodies into a car and drove up Highway 97 and onto Pumphouse Road just south of Toppenish. There they dumped the bodies and set fire to them. Two presumptive suspects were identified, Larry Kleven and John Raczykowski. Kleven was arrested immediately, and Raczykowski was apprehended later. The recently released court documents demonstrate Kleven’s involvement was limited. Murder charges against him have been dropped. The testimony came in an interview with Anton Picard, a Yakama Nation Water Resources worker, who recounted hearing a “loud bang or pop” while conducting fieldwork on tribal land. Believing a wildfire might have
started, Picard drove toward the smoke. When he reached a spur road in the hills, he saw two vehicles: an older white pickup stopped partly in the roadway and a silver Toyota Tacoma speeding down from the hillside. Sensing trouble, Picard turned his work truck around and followed the two vehicles as they headed east on Pumphouse Road toward U.S. Highway 97. According to investigators, the white pickup has since been identified as belonging to Kleven. Picard told investigators that the trucks drove quickly toward Toppenish, turning onto Fort Road near the Yakama Nation Casino and Tribal Agency inter-
See Kleven page A8
U.S. counties that contain Chinese-owned farmland
THE EPOCH TIMES
YEAH, BUT... A recent article in the arch-right wing newspaper The Epoch Times sprawled across its front page highlighting what it said where hot spots of Chinese-owned agriculture locations in the U.S. Klickitat County is clearly indicated in red as one of those spots —yet nowhere in the voluminous article did it say a word about the county or its presumed Chinese-owned properties.
RODGER NICHOLS FOR THE SENTINEL Following a sharply divided public comment session at their October 7 meeting, Klickitat County Commissioners put off a decision on a proposed one tenth of one percent sales tax dedicated to the justice system until the following week. They also extended the written public comment period to last Friday, October 10. County Treasurer Greg Gallagher laid out the estimated income the tax would bring: “That sales tax is a shared revenue stream,” he said. “The county would get a portion of that, and then it would be split amongst the incorporated cities within the county, based on population. The numbers I have provided were an estimate of $325,000 of new revenue. In my sheet, the county was about $250,000, Bingen was about $10,000; Goldendale was about $45,000 and White Salmon was around $30,000.” While the individual fiscal impact would be small—just a dollar on a $1,000 purchase— several people spoke fervently on principle against the concept of more taxes. They expressed frustration at the county going to citizens for more revenue rather than to wind and solar energy companies. But the larger population seemed more concerned with adequately funding law enforcement. Some 34 of the state’s 39 counties have already enacted the tax, and Bingen Mayor Cath-
erine Kiewit told commissioners voters in that city approved it for the city by 83 percent. In other news, there was a heads-up for Klickitat County residents who plan to build in the near future. Building Department Director Lynn Ward said building permit and inspection fees are going up January 1, less than 90 days away: “The proposed increase is 10 percent for residential, which will include accessory structures related to residential projects,” she said. “For non-residential commercial-type projects, we’re using the International Code Council’s building valuation from February of the previous year, which averaged out at approximately 38 percent.” She also reported that the county’s SmartGov program had been updated to allow unlimited users. It’s a cloud-based all-inone government platform that manages permitting, licensing, code enforcement, and inspections and would be available to any department that thought it helpful. Commissioners immediately saw the potential for a direct-to-customer convenient online one-stop shop that would speed the process and hoped to be able to answer all the security concerns and open it to public access soon. Interim Economic Development Director Richard Foster mentioned a hangup on construction of the hangar that will be used for aircraft mechanic training by Columbia Gorge
See County page A8
Commerce Corner: What does a Chamber board director do? TEJA HANNA FOR THE SENTINEL
With nominations and voting now open for available Chamber of Commerce board positions, it feels like the perfect time to reflect on what it truly means to serve as a Chamber board director. At the Greater Goldendale Area Chamber of Commerce, our board is composed of dedicated volunteers—business owners, community leaders, and individuals who care deeply about the success of our region. With a current opening on the board, this is an ideal moment to share what that role entails and why strong leadership is so vital to the health of the Chamber, our membership, and the greater community. What is the role of a board director? At its core, the board of directors provides governance and guidance for the Chamber. While staff handle the day-to-day operations, the board sets the overall direction of the organization. That means: • Helping shape the Chamber’s mission, vision, and long-term strategy. • Ensuring programs and budgets align with the needs of the organization and those it serves. • Offering oversight and accountability so the Chamber remains a trusted steward of chamber resources. Directors also serve as ambassadors. They represent the Chamber in the community,
bring feedback from their industries or neighborhoods, and encourage others to participate in Chamber programs. Why a board matters for the Chamber The Chamber is unique because it represents the collective voice of businesses across Klickitat County. A Board made up of diverse members—from small shop owners to representatives of larger employers, nonprofits, and community organizations— ensures that voice is balanced and inclusive. Board members help the Chamber stay relevant by grounding decisions in real-world business experience. They know what it’s like to meet payroll, adapt to changing markets, and/or balance growth with limited resources. That insight is invaluable when setting priorities for the Chamber’s work. A director’s responsibilities Serving on the board is both an honor and a responsibility. Directors are expected to: • Attend monthly meetings to discuss programs, finances, and strategy. • Serve on committees or task forces that support areas like events, economic development, or tourism. • Support Chamber initiatives by attending events, sharing information, and encouraging engagement. • Act as advocates for the Chamber and its members in
See Chamber page A8