Pair of single vehicle accidents result in two weekend fatalities
Two single vehicle accidents resulted in fatalities over the past weekend in Klickitat County. The first incident occurred on Friday, Aug. 20 at approximately 12:40 p.m. at milepost 5.8 on the BZ Corners-Glenwood Highway.
According to Sheriff’s deputies a Toyota pickup driven by Erica J. Clevidence, 20, of White Salmon left the roadway and continued over an embankment, striking a tree and rotating before coming to a stop.
A passenger in the vehicle, Gregory S. Wolff, 22, of Battle Ground, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Clevidence was transported to Providence Hospital in Hood River, where she was treated for minor injuries.
The second fatality occurred on Sunday, Aug. 22 at approximately 2:35 p.m. with Sheriff’s deputies responding to a report of a motorcycle accident on the Bickleton Highway near milepost 13.5.
According to the report, 51 year old Randy A. Garr, of Vancouver was riding his motorcycle when he failed to negotiate a right hand curve. Garr crossed the westbound lane and was ejected. Garr was pronounced dead at the scene.
A second motorcyclist, 42 year old Lisa A. Capuano of Camas, witnessed Garr’s collision which resulted in her also having an accident.
Capuano sustained minor injuries and was treated at the Klickitat Valley Hospital.
Both accidents are still under investigation.
Candidate speaks on Auditor office management
Lou Marzeles
Editor
Connie Kayser believes there are serious problems with the Klickitat County Auditor’s Office, and she says that’s why she’s running for auditor. She pointed to conditions that to her suggested discontent in the office, though she gave little indication of how she would change things.
“Within the last four years,” she told people at the Greater Goldendale Chamber of Commerce business lunch on Monday, “there has been a turn-over of half the employees in the auditor’s office—twice. You don’t leave a position unless you’re not happy about it for some reason.”
That reason, Kayser said, was management of the auditor’s office. Asked how she knew that, Kayser responded that she’d heard it from some of the people who had left or from people in their families. “We need to keep people with experience in that office,” she told the group.
In a cryptic comment, Kayser also said that people in the auditor’s office should have background checks. “With the internet these days,” she said, “you can find out a lot about people.”
Asked if by that she was referring to people presently working in the auditor’s office, she responded yes. “Just do a search on some names,” she said, though she mentioned no one specifically nor offered elaboration.
Kayser repeated her theme of questionable management in the auditor’s office throughout her comments. “Management seems the biggest problem, according to those who left,” she said.
She made little mention in her remarks of what she would do differently if elected.
Among those at the business lunch meeting was current County Auditor Brenda Sorensen.
Sorensen made no comment during the meeting regarding Kayser’s remarks.
DNR calls for forest biomass study proposals
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has released a request for proposals to assess forest biomass availability and sustainable harvest thresholds on forested lands throughout Washington State. In July 2010, DNR received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), with a portion of these funds allocated to the study.
“We are serious about sustainability in our forests and applying science to make sure our forests will be healthy now and generations into the future,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark. “This study will provide us and prospective biomass investors with critical information that can be used to determine the best locations, scales, and processing technologies for forest biomass in the future. It is a very important next step of this emerging industry.”
As directed by the 2010 legislative bill, 2SHB 2481 on Long-term Supply Agreements, DNR must complete a supply study prior to being authorized to enter into long-term agreements for forest biomass from public lands. The bill was intended to foster the continued growth of Washington’s bioenergy sector; the study will ensure that as this sector grows, it is done so sustainably. |
