Teen drinking rates "not acceptable"
Counselors and administrators express concern with 40 percent figures
By Rachel Cavanaugh
Editor, The Sentinel
Over 40 percent of high school seniors in Klickitat County reported drinking alcohol in the last 30 days, according to a survey released this week.
Twenty-five percent had smoked cigarettes and 22.4 had used marijuana or hashish.
The questionnaire, covering topics ranging from alcohol and drug use to diet and sexual awareness, is conducted every two years by the Washington State Department of Health.
During the survey this fall, 42.6 percent of 12th graders said they had drank a "glass, can or bottle of alcohol," in the last month.
"It's not acceptable," said Jeff Wolfanger, of Central Washington Comprehensive Mental Health, of the numbers. "There are more kids than we'd like to see drinking and using, especially marijuana and alcohol."
"That's typical of rural communities where alcohol is more acceptable," added the intervention specialist, who works two days a week at Goldendale High School (GHS).
Although it is changing, he said, there is also a "mythology" in the area around marijuana, which stems from false ideas based on how the drug was produced 30 years ago.
"This is no longer the same drug," Wolfanger said. "The damage it does to the teenage brain is more significant than it used to be."
Richard Halpern, school counselor for Lyle School District, said economic hardships can impact rates of drug and alcohol use. Right now, the entire country is struggling.
"Whenever families or just the general mood of the economy is being challenged, it increases the risk factors for everybody," said Halpern.
Martin Huffman, Lyle School District superintendent, said he has seen parental drug use in the past.
"No one says it, but that's the way it is," said Huffman. "I've seen it as a problem - parents' use going over into student use.
Although he emphasized the trend seems to be decreasing, it still has an affect on kids.
Within the county, there is a spectrum of use rates.
Ric Palmer, superintendent for Bickleton School District, has worked in Lyle and Glenwood. He said moving around has shown him there are different challenges in different areas.
Although the superintendent stressed he would be "naive" to think no students in Bickleton drink or do drugs, he said it seems less rampant out there.
A recent Goldendale High School (GHS) graduate, who preferred to remain anonymous, said she was not surprised by the Department of Health report. During her years in Goldendale she said she saw lots of alcohol and drug use. In fact, she guessed rates are higher.
"To be honest with you, I've taken those surveys and I lie all the time," the former GHS student said. "You never know whose going to see it. There's handwriting."
She said students are afraid if they tell the truth they will get in trouble so they fib. Other times, they just fill in bubbles without thinking.
"Everyone does marijuana," the student said. "It definitely comes into your path.
"Parents don't even know it and that's what's really sad...they think because they get good grades and they're active in the school that they're not part of it."
She said the current fad is hallucinogenic mushrooms, or "'shrooms." Kids often come into school, she said, talking about "trips" they had over the weekend.
However, Wolfanger noted that student perception is sometimes inaccurate. Many kids, he said, believe "everybody," is doing drugs, when in fact they are not.
The survey also pointed to students' perceptions of parents and law enforcement. When asked if they would get caught by their parents if they drank alcohol, 61.8 percent gave "no" answers. When asked if they would be caught by the police, 84.7 percent responded "no."
Yet Goldendale Police Chief Rick Johnson disagreed.
"We do catch them," said Johnson. "We've caught them before...If they're underage and they're drinking they can lose their driver's license, they're looking at records. They've got to think about what the future is going to involve."
"We take it very seriously."
GHS principal Clay Henry said administrators are aware of drug and alcohol use, but pointed to numerous measures the district has taken in recent years to beef up prevention.
Earlier this month, for example, the school held staff training on how to respond to drug use; in February, administrators went to Yakima to take part in DITEP training (Drug Impairment Training for Education Professionals.)
They also work with the local police department and sponsor drug prevention programs, and education.
"We're trying to be as proactive as we can," said Henry.
"We all know things go on in high school. We don't have our heads in the sand. But we also know if we don't know the right indicators, we can't do anything about it."
Despite certain numbers in the survey, there was also some good news. For example, both alcohol and marijuana consumption were down several percentage points from 2006, when 46.5 percent of the kids reported drinking and 27.8 percent had smoked marijuana.
In the fall, GHS was able to rehire Wolfanger, who had previously been cut due to funding issues. Henry attributed much of the drop to his return.
Moreover, students reported other positive feelings towards the community. For instance, when asked if they "like [their] neighborhood/community," 75.4 percent of Klickitat County seniors gave "yes" answers. When asked if they had a personal problem, if they "could ask [their] mom or dad for help," 76.5 percent said "yes."
Eighty-two percent said there are "adults in [their] neighborhood or community [they] could talk to about something important."
Administrators said they hope more funding will be given to drug and alcohol prevention in the future. In the meantime, principals and superintendents continue to work hard and keep a positive head on the issue.
"Do I think every kid comes here sober every day? I hope and pray they do. But we know there are some that slip through," said Henry. "We need to make sure we keep the lines of communication open.
"If we can do those things then I think we have a hope to overcome some of the challenges we have."
 Maryhill State Park latest to land on threatened list
By Rachel Cavanaugh
Editor, The Sentinel
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has released a second list of parks for potential closure.
Within that list - ranked number 14 in order of priority - is Maryhill State Park, just outside Goldendale.
"There's just no good way to do this and no one really wants to do this anyway," said Virginia Painter, public affairs director for the Commission. "But if we're going to do this, we would look at mothballing, which is basically the temporary closure."
The term "mothballing" has been used frequently in recent parks debates, as a way to avoid permanent closure and maintain the possibility of the park reopening or being taken over by another entity.
Late last year, the Commission created a list of 13 parks to possibly cut. On that list was Brooks Memorial State Park, north of Goldendale.
The most recent list was created earlier this month, on Mar. 5, when the state legislature asked the Commission to figure out a way to cut 23 percent of their funding, if needed. The request marked a substantial increase from the previous list, which outlined a 10 percent cut.
The main reason for the increase is the growing state budget shortfall, now estimated at over $8 billion.
That brings the total number of parks in jeopardy to 45, which are prioritized based on number of visitations.
"We've said all along and still maintain that it could affect up to 40 parks," said Painter.
The new 23 percent cut represents about $23 million for the Commission.
Painter stressed the number is not final, but provisions must be made, She said parks and area managers were called earlier this month and given an alert about the list, which would likely affect their jobs.
"If any of us looked at this list we could argue any park off that list because they all have a unique feature," said Painter. "We've got to find an objective way to find the reductions."
Local candidate picked as top choice to replace Newhouse
By Rachel Cavanaugh
Editor, The Sentinel
Local Republicans have chosen a candidate from Klickitat County as their top pick to replace Dan Newhouse in the 15th Legislative District.
Republican Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs) elected White Salmon farmer, Jacob Anderson, 25, as their top choice at a meeting Saturday. The other two finalists were Moxee agricultural consultant David Taylor, second, and former Sunnyside Councilman Don Vlieger, third.
Anderson, a third generation cattle operator also co-owns Anderson's Custom Sawing, a 'specialty sawmill north of White Salmon. He has been active on the Board of the White Salmon Irrigation District and the Underwood Conservation District and is serving his second term as secretary for the Klickitat County Republicans.
"I feel honored to have the support of the Republican PCOs," Anderson said. "This has been an amazing process so far and for the Republicans to field such a qualified pool of candidates is exceptional."
Anderson said he would keep the needs of the county in mind if he proceeds to fill the state representative seat. He said he will focus on issues like natural resources, forestry, agriculture, and water rights, and will look at ways to shape policy to help people back home.
"I've lived in Klickitat County my entire life," said Anderson. "I've owned businesses in Klickitat County...it's where my family's been for four generations.
"We have to work on fiscal responsibility at the state level," he continued. "People in Klickitat County don't want to spend more on taxes for services they don't feel they are getting."
Anderson's background in agriculture and forestry, he said, would help to fill the hole left by Newhouse.
"There are only five farmers and only two legislators with forestry background remaining in the House," Anderson said. "We can't afford to lose another natural resources voice."
Newhouse stepped down from the Legislature in February to take an appointed position as Director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture.
The former state representative has declined to endorse any specific candidate, but has maintained the desire to see someone well-versed in agricultural issues.
"Any representative from the district needs to have a firm understanding of agriculture and there needs to be a focus of the legislator's work," Newhouse said Monday.
The other candidates were Skamania County Auditor Mike Garvison of Bonneville; winery owner Mike Wallace of Grandview; Zillah Mayor Gary Clark; Portland Police Bureau criminalist David Stanton of Skamania; and Greater Wapato Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debbie Manjarrez.
The County Commissioners of the four counties including Clark, Skamania, Klickitat, and Yakima will meet in Goldendale on Mar. 30 to decide which of the three candidates will become the new state representative.
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