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Hunting from home has led to quite a haul of special birds for Will Kessi, Page A11 Project2:Layout 1
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
2/21/12
3:24 PM
TODAY’S WEATHER Mostly cloudy Highs to 50 Page A13 Lows to 39
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The Chronicle
County gets new 9-1-1 admin Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District has a new leader at its helm. Jeanine Dilley, formerly of Klamath County in southern Oregon, took on the role of 9-1-1 administrator about two months ago after Lee Knowlton retired last November. Dilley was the director of 9-1-1 for Klamath County for the last seven years. “I have about 20 years of experience in 9-1-1,” Dilley told the St. Helens City Council during its Feb. 20 meeting. “Although I’m new to the community, I’m not new to special districts or the 9-1-1 community,” she added. Dilley has been making her way across the county to attend meetings like the chamber of commerce, city council and others, to introduce herself to local officials and citizens. The new 9-1-1 admin said she’s already looking into some of the county’s emergency response issues. “I’m working closely with the chief [of St. Helens Police] on a number of different issues. I’m making my rounds to all of the cities to introduce myself and answer any questions,” she said. One item that is sure to please both city officials and local residents is the agency’s budget. “We’re not asking for any new taxes, we’re just asking for a renewal of our operating funds so that we can maintain the high level of service that we provide to the citizens of St. Helens,” Dilley said.
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$1.00 Vol. 131, No. 9 14 Pages
Ruling in Butts aid and assist hearing expected BY SHARI PHIEL The Chronicle
ST. HELENS — A ruling in the Daniel Butts aid and assist hearing is expected sometime this week. The ruling had been expected at the end of three days of testimony presented last week, but presiding Judge Ted Grove said he would hand down his ruling after he had an opportunity to review additional evidence submitted, including a video recording of Butts. Testimony given over the three days came from five mental health professionals – two for the defense and three for the prosecution, along with testimony from a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office deputy who spoke about Butts’ time at the county jail.
Butts, 23, of Kalama, Wash., is charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Rainier Police Chief Ralph Painter on Jan. 5, 2011. It has been nearly a year since both the defense and the prosecution were last in court to argue Butts’ competency. In February 2012, Grove found Butts mentally competent to assist in his own defense but just two months later he ordered Butts back to Oregon State Hospital for further evaluation. For much of the hearing, Butts kept his head down and placed his fingers in his ears, interacting only occasionally and briefly with his attorneys. One exception to this came on the second day as the court was preparing to resume following a midday break. See RULING, Page A4
SHARI PHIEL / The Chronicle
In a very rare moment, accused killer Daniel Butts communicates briefly with his attorney, Patrick Sweeney, during the aid and assist competency hearing at the Columbia County Courthouse on Feb. 20.
Health district lawsuits stalled BY SHARI PHIEL The Chronicle
A lawsuit filed by the most recent board of directors for the Columbia Health District against Columbia County Commissioners Tony Hyde, Earl Fisher and Henry Heimuller has been denied by Circuit Court Judge Ted Grove. On Dec. 28, 2012, Grove issued a letter stating, “I am granting summary judgment in both matters against the plaintiffs and in favor of all defendants.” At the heart of the lawsuit is the property on Millard Road, which had been intended to be a hospital while the taxing district was operational. After a certificate of need was denied, district residents quickly voted to put an end to the taxing district. CHD board members, which were Tammy Maygra, Georgia Keiper, Carrie Cason, Madeline Anderson and Peggy Crisp, filed suit in January 2012 after the commissioners indicated state statute required the property be turned over to the City
SHARI PHIEL / The Chronicle
The Columbia Health District site that once had been intended to become a hospital now stands empty, overgrown with grass and weeds, waiting for future development.
of St. Helens. The goal of the suit was to keep the county from transferring the property to St. Helens, to have the commissioners removed as trustees and to have the Gable Road property, which was transferred to the Public Health Foundation by an earlier CHD board returned to the health district. For now, none of those things will happen. Grove said his judgment was
based “upon my determination that the actions complained of were within the statutory authority of the Columbia County Commissioners in their capacity as trustees of the Columbia Health District.” Grove again upheld the summary judgment during a Feb. 25 hearing scheduled after attorney Jim Huffman, who is representing the CHD board members, filed a motion for the hearing. “It appears pretty clear to me that
once the vote has occurred saying dissolve this district, the action then is dissolve the district. I believe that at that time there was an ability for the then directors to handle the dissolution process, or by statute had the authority to turn it over to the county commissioners. They turned it over to the county commissioners,” Grove said during the Feb. 25 hearing.
See CHD, Page A4
CCRider changes approved by commissioners Sightline study is
flawed, says Ambre
BY SHARI PHIEL The Chronicle
Proposed service changes put forth by Columbia County Rider’s transit advisory committee have been approved by the Columbia County board of commissioners. The changes were submitted to the commissioners during a Feb. 13 public hearing, which was held open to Feb. 20 to allow for additional public comment to be submitted. The proposed changes were the result of increasing constraints on available funding and the requirement to adhere to the state mandate that all county agencies have a reserve fund. “The county’s general
This is the second of a two part story looking at a study recently released Seattle’s Sightline Institute. This week, we look at the reaction from Ambre Energy and the mining company’s views on the report.
File photo
fund can no longer supplement the transit program,” said Janet Wright, executive director of CCRider. “They have done that this year with $83,000 and last year with $82,000.” The proposed service
changes will allow the agency to put aside 2 ½ months of reserve funds over the next three years, which is equal to just over $300,000.
See RIDER, Page A4
A report issued by Sightline Institute earlier this month says Ambre Energy, the coal mining company looking at developing two coal export terminals on the Columbia River, is built on shaky finances. Not true, says the Australia-based company. In fact, Ambre officials say that while Sightline did use company data widely available to the public, how
the think tank compiled that data raises its own concerns. “Sightline looked at publicly available past financial reports. But they made some generalizations and assumptions that we would have an issue with,” said company spokesperson Liz Fuller of Gard Communications. “Generally, the content they pulled from is correct but they just made certain conclusions that we wouldn’t agree with.” Contrary to information stated by Sightline, Ambre officials say the company is producing revenues and is financially viable. See AMBRE, Page A4
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