Skaters apologize for Festival antics
Over $1,000 in damage; City sends upset letter
Rachel Cavanaugh
News Editor
Festival of Speed organizers issued apologies and set up a reparation fund last week after fairground officials revealed more than $1,000 in damages caused during the event.
Photos taken from the site showed graffiti and profanities written on hay bales, spray paint on bathroom walls, a broken gate, partially detached bathroom sink, brick missing from a wall, empty beer containers, trash, prophylactics, and torn-down handcrafts.
According to Goldendale treasurer, Tracy Hansen, other issues included flour stuck to shower stalls, emptied fire extinguishers, campfires in the grass, and about $150 in used-up water jugs.
Coordinators of the Labor Day festival, sponsored by the International Gravity Sports Association (ISGA), apologized, calling the activities a “kick in the gut” to the sport.
“We are not only personally horrified at the vandalism that took place at the fairgrounds, but the larger community of skateboarders and gravity racers is also,” said Erik Basil, of Silverfish Longboarding, in an email. “Conduct like what occurred is not emblematic of our sport, which is occasionally rowdy but generally family-friendly.”
Dean Ozuna, a Spokane resident and long-time Maryhill skateboarder, offered physical labor to help with the cleanup. He said the group was willing to do what it takes to repair their reputation.
“Is there a city project the skateboarders can take on?” he asked in an email. “We can supply the manpower to assist in any way we can.”
Reports of trouble during the festival had surfaced following the event, but details were not confirmed until last week, when the county’s Buildings and Grounds department sent a disc with color photos to the City of Goldendale. Following that, Mayor Arletta Parton issued a letter of concern.
In a document addressed to event promoters, she said she and her staff were left with a “bad taste in their mouth.”
“Goldendale will survive and make its own mark without vandals that come and take advantage of a small town and its people who went all out to welcome, entertain and feed them,” Parton said in the letter.
“As far as I am concerned these vandals are not welcome in Goldendale. Maybe Maryhill can afford all of the vandalism - we certainly cannot.”
Event promoter John Ozman posted the mayor’s letter on a longboarding website last Wednesday and within literal minutes, responses began flooding in:
“This is a giant step back,” read one posting.
“That is really sad. The bad few ruin it for those who enjoy the ride,” read another.
Yet despite the concerns, some in town argued a certain degree of partying is to be expected.
“Last year the local kids egged motor homes…that’s local kids,” said local businessman, Jim Allyn. “Local kids are the ones that tear up the bathrooms at the World War II park. That’s what happens - and if you don’t want it to happen, you can’t have anything.”
John Ihrig, manager of Buildings and Grounds for the county, was involved directly in the cleanup. He said there were concerns but noted that overall it “wasn’t that bad.” When asked if he thought they shouldn’t come back, he said “no.”
“I don’t see it like that,” said Ihrig. “I think the general public was pretty comfortable with the event.”
Nevertheless, Hansen said some action was necessary.
“Events like this happen and they get out of hand, but the accountable parties need to step up to the plate and take responsibility,” said Hansen.
Lorraine Reynolds, who helped coordinate the event did not condone it, but said certain things could have been prevented.
“It shouldn’t have happened,” said Reynolds. “But I should have had the money to hire a security team up there - and I begged for money.
“I’m not trying to make justifications…[but] the bigger picture is that’s a lot of revenue into town. Are we not going to ever do something because we’re scared something’s going to happen?”
Ozuna, who is organizing a safe skate clinic in Goldendale in October, said he will continue doing what he can to make things better. He said he considers Maryhill like his backyard.
“We as the locals, the people who have been coming here for years…want to do what we can to set the record straight and do what we can for the community.”
 GHS gets hard lockdown
Rachel Cavanaugh
News Editor
Goldendale High School went into a hard lockdown Friday after a student spotted a gun in a handbag, according to reports from administrators.
Although authorities later confirmed the weapon was either a pellet or airsoft gun, they said the incident nevertheless caused concern.
“We take it very seriously,” said police Chief Rick Johnston, who had officers on the scene. “We have to treat it as a real weapon. They’ve got squirt guns that look like Uzis. We can’t sit there and wait to tell the difference.”
According to superintendent, Mark Heid, administrators received word around 12:30 p.m. that a student had seen a gun in a girl’s purse in the women’s bathroom. It is unclear whether she had pulled it out or not, but it was reported to authorities.
Heid put a call out over the intercom system, locking all windows and doors at the high school, and extending a soft lockdown to the middle and elementary schools.
Police arrived on the scene within minutes and began a search for a female sophomore. She was apprehended in the parking lot with another female student, returning to the school.
She was not carrying the weapon, but police later recovered it from a moving vehicle belonging to an acquaintance.
If charged, the student will face a gross misdemeanor offense with up to one year in a juvenile detention center.
At the moment, she is on emergency suspension through the school. Heid said he will meet with principal Clay Henry this week to discuss whether expulsion will be an option.
“We’re not ruling it out,” said Heid.
He said he does not take the incident lightly.
“Any time there is report of a weapon, it’s very serious,” said Heid. “The heart rate goes up, the doors get locked up, and the police come in.”
Administrators will meet this week, Heid said, to review the incident and discuss what worked well and how the system might be improved.
City to request proposals for events contract
Rachel Cavanaugh
News Editor
The Goldendale City Council agreed Monday night to send a request for proposal (RFP) for contracting events coordination next year.
Essentially, the decision means any person, group, or agency can submit a proposal and the City will then decide which one is the best fit.
It also means the contract with current events coordinator, Lorraine Reynolds, will not be renewed automatically. That said, Treasurer Tracy Hansen stressed the current organizer is eligible and welcome to put in a proposal.
She also emphasized the move is not in any way a sign the City is looking at eliminating or even minimizing events in town.
“We are not – unequivocally are not – looking at ending any events in Goldendale,” said Hansen. “Our only question has ever been, ‘Which events are most popular and best serve our community?’”
The decision to put out the RFP, she said, is because contracts must be evaluated and updated on a regular basis.
“You have to, every three or four years, look at what you’re doing, tweak it a little, and see what works best for your community,” Hansen said.
This will be the fourth year of Reynold’s contract.
Hansen pointed to other things the City is involved with through its economic development group, such as a home and garden show and a renewable energy fair set for next year, which already has five booths spoken for.
She clarified that the City of Goldendale is separate from Golden Event Planning (Reynold’s business), which has always been a private contractor. That point, she said, has caused confusion among people who think she is a city employee.
Last week, before the RFP decision was made, city officials met with the Chamber of Commerce to discuss the possibility of that agency taking it over.
Tuesday, Chamber board members confirmed they would be making an offer.
“Yes, we are preparing to put together a business plan and review the options and see what would be the best approach,” said Earlene Sullivan, member of the board of directors.
“If in fact the City was not going to renew the Golden Event Planning contract, the Chamber is interested in submitting a proposal to keep the events going in Goldendale.”
Reynold’s contract ends December 31. The City said it will be placing ads in local newspapers in the coming weeks to let people know it is open.
PAL center closed
The PALs activity center in Goldendale has been shut down indefinitely due to lack of funding, the sheriff’s office said this week.
The program, called the Police Activity League, is designed to give kids a safe place to hang out and familiarize themselves with local law enforcement.
It was launched in Goldendale in 2006 after the town received a one-year grant, according to Sheriff Rick McComas. However, money ran out in March and the department has been using county money since then.
“It was only intended to fund the activity center for one year,” said McComas.
He said the sheriff’s department will continue PALs activities, but focus them on unincorporated parts of the county, like Klicktat, Wishram, and Bickleton. Crystal Dodge, who has been a key figure in the program, will continue her involvement, just not at the Goldendale office.
McComas said at this point, if the city wants a local facility, it is up to the Police department to secure the funding.
Police Chief Rick Johnston, however, said he thought it was unlikely that would or could happen. In fact, he said, the issue was discussed earlier in the year.
“We told [McComas] there was no way the city was going to be able to take it over as it’s running now,” said Johnston.
“I would say the center’s probably dead. We just don’t have the funds.” |
