BG MAN PLEADS "NOT GUILTY" ON MURDER I

Heidi Wallenborn, news director

James David Karnath pleaded not guilty April 22 to a charge of first degree murder, and waived his right to a speedy trial. His trial is set for Sept. 22.

Karnath, 44, Battle Ground, is being held without bail in the Clark County jail on reports that he murdered his 69-year-old father, James G. Karnath, in a March 20-24 butchering spree in a one-room, state-owned cabin just south of Yacolt near Moulton Falls.

Officials are not sure exactly when the alleged murder took place.

The younger Karnath was arrested March 24 near Dunsmuir, CA for reportedly stealing a vehicle. He was transported to the Clark County jail on March 31.

While incarcerated in the Siskiyou County jail, Karnath reportedly told a cell mate that he killed the Easter Bunny and his father, according to a tape- recorded court search warrant. Karnath also reportedly told a deputy that he killed his father in a "very vicious way" and that he "butchered" him, and that he planned to kill his sister and brother in the same way.

Clark County Sheriff's deputies found the elder Karnath's body next to his murdered dog, Happy, in the cabin.

Inside Karnath's home at 16323 NE 236th St., Battle Ground, deputies also found an answering machine with a male's voice crying and saying, "I'm sorry, daddy, I'm sorry," according to the search warrant.

A medical examiner's examination showed Karnath died from injuries of manual strangulation, blunt force trauma to the head, and multiple stab wounds to the neck and head. His right eye was missing.

When the younger Karnath first appeared in court April 1, he asked Superior Court judge Roger Bennett if he could just plead guilty and get "this whole thing over with."

Bennett told him he had to wait until he had an attorney to do that. Jeff Barrar was assigned to represent him.

Before Karnath was transported to Clark County, the state of California dropped the auto theft charge.

BOMBARDIER TRIAL PUT OFF

Heidi Wallenborn, news director

Former Ridgefield city manager Randy Bombardier did not face a new trial for misconduct on April 25 as planned.

Rather, he and defense attorney Jon McMullen met April 22 in Superior Court judge Robert Harris' chambers and came to an agreement to "regroup" and meet again on May 17.

State assistant Attorney General Tim Crandall attended the meeting via conference call from Olympia.

McMullen said he only had a few days to prepare for the upcoming trial, as he was unaware the state was going forward with their plan to re-try his client.

The first trial charged Bombardier with willingly putting Ridgefield citizens and city employees health at risk when the painter he hired reportedly removed toxic lead-based paint improperly from the front of city hall in June 2002.

That trial ended in a hung jury when 12 jurors could not agree beyond a reasonable doubt that Bombardier was guilty.

McMullen said he and his client may come to an agreement with the state before trial. If not, "We'll go for trial."

Meanwhile, Bombardier is looking for employment, he said.

"I just want this think over with and to go on with my life," Bombardier said.

STEP-SON ACCUSED IN RIDGEFIELD KILLING

Heidi Wallenborn, news director

A missing person's case appears to have been solved with the arrest of a 26-year old Ridgefield man for reportedly murdering his step-father. Kenneth Jones, 22701 NE 21st Ct., was arrested while walking near his home in the Duluth area of Ridgefield on April 24. He is accused of killing Dwain Voeller, 44, of the same address.

Jones made an appearance in court April 26 to obtain an attorney on charges of first degree murder. He is being held without bail in the Clark County jail.

Voeller was last seen Feb. 27, but not reported missing until March 2, said Clark County Sheriff's Sgt. Craig Hogman. Voeller worked during the week in Seattle.

On Feb. 27, Voeller was to pick up his ex-wife, whom he lived with, from work, but Jones arrived instead, Hogman said.

When she arrived at home, she looked for Voeller and noted his clothing and work tools were still there, but his truck was gone. She assumed he'd driven back to work in Seattle, she told deputies.

When she learned Voeller hadn't shown up for work the following week, she was concerned and called Clark County deputies, Hogman said.

The Sheriff's Office released a missing person report to the media on March 9, and continued with the investigation.

Detectives recently developed information that Voeller was murdered by Jones, Hogman said, but declined to give any details at this point, including suspected cause of death.

"Let's just say we feel very comfortable in making an arrest at this time," Hogman said. He declined to say if there were any witnesses to the alleged murder.

As of late in the afternoon April 25, searchers were looking for Voeller's remains in the Sunset Falls Campground area, about 10 miles south of Yacolt.

About 20 searchers were at work, Hogman said, searching areas outside campsites by grid.

Searchers include Clark County Mounted Patrol, Silver Star, Pacific Crest, Northwest and Clark County search and rescue teams, and the Clark County Sheriff's Office Hasty Team, Hogman said. Cadaver dogs were being used as well.

Because of the scope of area to be examined, the search could take some time, Hogman said.

RIDGEFIELD SETS COST-RECOVERY FEES

Bill Myers, staff reporter

Ridgefield city council members approved a resolution April 14 setting hourly rates for development and redevelopment activities.

Hourly rates apply when costs exceed flat fees established by the Ridgefield Municipal Code, said Community Development director Kevin Snyder.

Rates vary by city staff members and are related to employee salary and benefit costs.

Historically, the city used engineering and planning consultants. Their fees were invoiced to developers, said city clerk Kay Kammer.

The city now uses in-house staff for such processes.

A fee schedule facilitates cost recovery so citizens of Ridgefield won't have to bear expenses of developers, Kammer said.

When non-employee consultants are used, the city will charge developers a 25 percent mark-up on the total cost of invoices. City manager George Fox said the fees cover administrative costs for tracking and follow-up work on such services.

Hourly rates by city employee are:

City manager, $150; Director of Community Development or Public Works, $115; senior planners or engineers, $95; planners or engineers, $75; development inspectors, $65; other, $55 minimum.

Other jurisdictions

Clark County Community Development finance manager Toby LaFrance said developers of projects in the county agree in writing to pay hourly rates equal to salary and benefits of employees, plus a 30 percent mark-up, for public record searches, photo copying and environmental impact statement reviews.

Other hourly rates are rarely used for other cost recoveries and are difficult to administer, LaFrance said. Chronic reinspection would warrant such charges.

David Reeves, finance director in Battle Ground, said base fees often take care of charges. When necessary, hourly rates ranging from $75 for a director to $25 for clerical staff are charged to recover costs of preparing environmental impact statements.

Battle Ground officials charge a 10 percent mark-up on consultant fees to cover administrative costs.

Hourly rates are not charged in Woodland or La Center.

BULLET SMASHES INTO BG HOME

Bill Myers, staff reporter

A high-caliber bullet splattered glass and wood as it entered a downtown Battle Ground home April 20.

Homeowner Jeff Crager, his wife, Elke, and their three children were not home at 313 NE 3rd St. when the bullet struck.

The bullet appeared to have come from the southwest, said Battle Ground police Sgt. Steve Urban. It smashed through the master bedroom window and a bedroom door.

On what appeared to be a downward-slope trajectory about 5 feet high, the slug went through the bedroom and ricocheted off a closet door and came to rest in the bedroom of Crager's 6-year-old twin boys.

"Had we been home, it could have killed one of us," said Crager.

Police believe the shot came from a large caliber handgun. There were no casings found near the home, so it may have been fired from a distance.

The investigating officer found no evidence that the family was targeted, Urban said.

Anyone with information about the shooting that occurred around 4:30-6 p.m. is asked to call Battle Ground police at 342-5100 Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or 911 anytime.

Shooting any firearm in the city limits, including BB guns and air compression rifles, is illegal unless authorized by the city council to allow a club or organization to conduct such activity.

SOPHIA JOHNSON REPEATS NOT GUILTY PLEA

New trial set for woman convicted of bludgeoning mother-in-law

Bill Myers, staff reporter

Sophia Johnson, convicted by a Clark County jury in 2003 for murdering her mother-in-law, pleaded not guilty April 12 to first and second degree murder charges.

The pleas set the stage for a second murder trial, currently scheduled for Aug. 8.

A new trial was ordered last month by state Court of Appeals judges who ruled that Johnson's constitutional rights were violated in her first trial when Superior Court judge Diane Woolard removed a juror during deliberations.

Appellate judges also held that a bailiff at the trial improperly communicated with jury members.

On Jan. 10, 2002, Johnson allegedly bludgeoned Marlyne Johnson, 58, at her Brush Prairie home with fireplace tongs when the victim interrupted her and her brother, Sean Correia, during a burglary.

Correia pleaded guilty to residential burglary, first degree theft and rendering criminal assistance.

Correia testified against his sister and served a jail sentence. He then returned to his native country Guyana in South America. Prosecutors documented his testimonies.

Judge issues raised

Defense attorney Therese Lavallee, in an April 5 motion, asked judge Robert Harris to disqualify himself from the case.

Lavallee said Harris advised Woolard on an issue that was reversed by the Court of Appeals.

Lavallee said Woolard and Harris informed her in 2002 that Woolard was assigned to the case because other Superior Court judges in Clark County were disqualified because the victim's husband, Richard Johnson, practiced law in Clark County for several years.

A judge from other than Clark County should hear the case, said Lavallee.

Harris reassigned the case to Clark County Superior Court judge Roger Bennett, who presided over the April 12 arraignment.

Bennett said he has no bias in the case and declined a request from Lavallee to recuse himself.

GOP DECRY VOTES TO SKIRT PEOPLE'S INITIATIVE

Deb Wallace is only area democrat to oppose bill

Bill Myers, staff reporter

Area Republican lawmakers are steaming about legislation that will increase state spending and taxes.

"A slap in the face to voters," said District 18 republican senator Joe Zarelli.

"[It] shows a lack of regard for the citizens who passed I-601," said representative Richard Curtis (R-District 18)

The wrath of area Republican legislators is aimed at Democrats who voted for Substitute Senate Bill 6078.

The bill overrides spending-controls created in 1993 by people's Initiative-601. The controls required two-third majority votes in state houses to increase spending beyond rates of population increases or inflation.

Angry politicians say it took only 45 days to pass the special bill which "guts" the people's mandate to control government spending.

District 17 representative Deb Wallace was the only area democrat who voted against the bill.

The bill gives a democrat-controlled legislature a two-year window to approve spending--and new taxes--with a simple majority vote, said Zarelli.

Even a new public mandate won't stop new spending.

A summary from Curtis' office said the bill contains an emergency clause with wording that prevents a voter referendum from stopping new taxes.

Democrat majorities in the Senate and House, with approvals from a Democrat governor, will touch off unwarranted spending with large deficits sure to follow, say Republican legislators.

In the Senate, 25 Democrats voted to bypass the spending-control initiative. Opposition came from 15 Republicans, including Zarelli, Don Benton (R-17th District) and one Democrat.

In the house, 50 Democrats voted for the bill. Nays came from 40 Republicans, including Curtis, Ed Orcutt (R-18th District) and three Democrats, including Wallace. Jim Dunn (R-17th District) was on excused absence.

In recent interviews, area Republican lawmakers criticized the budget process because expenditures were identified before revenue and sources of income were set.

No one could run a home or business that way, said Curtis.

"Families and businesses have to live within a budget in order to survive--what about government?" asked Curtis.

Zarelli, ranking minority member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said he tried in vain to present a proposal from Senate Republicans that protected pensions, education and the environment, and left a larger ending fund balance, all without raising taxes.

Republican lawmakers faulted tax proposals that could be part of a new budget inked before the 2005 session adjourned.

Proposed hikes on cigarette taxes (60 cents a pack) and liquor ($1 per liter) will hurt Clark County businesses and cost area jobs by encouraging more shopping in Oregon, said Zarelli, and added that people who drive to Oregon for cigarettes or liquor will buy other things there as well.

Zarelli said a proposal to collect a 5 percent tax on gross receipts from private, non-tribal casinos will hurt private card rooms and cost jobs.

Benton said the tax could create a casino monopoly for tribes, heavy Democrat contributors, and drive private card rooms out of business.

Benton said, "This is a very closed, very partisan process and Democrats are not willing to listen."

Estate taxes, or "death taxes," proposed in spite of a state Supreme Court ruling that they are unconstitutional, will hurt families of farmers and small business owners, Benton said.

Dunn said a House transportation tax proposal would hike gas taxes by 9.5 cents by year-end 2008.

A vehicle weight fee, with most revenue going to non-highway projects, is proposed at $5 per year for vehicles under 4,000 pounds, $15 per year for vehicles 4,001-6,000 pounds, $25 per year for vehicles 6,001-8,000 pounds, with added $5 surcharges scheduled for vehicles up to 10,000 pounds by 2008 and 2010.

An additional $75 annual fee would apply to motor homes, said Dunn.

Proposed taxes will hit middle and lower-income families hardest, said Dunn.

"I predict a $2.2 to $2.6 billion deficit in the next two years," Dunn said.

Asked why she voted against special bill 6078, Wallace said, "My constituents would not have wanted me to vote for that bill and I represent them."

In an interview before her vote, Wallace said she wants to keep new taxes at a minimum. She supports efforts to lower class sizes in schools and encourage more home health care.

ECOLOGY REVIEWS BG PROPOSAL

Environmental company to dig at site

Heidi Wallenborn, news director

The state Department of Ecology is reviewing a "scope of work" proposal over a reported illegal hazardous waste landfill at Battle Ground Public Works.

The proposal details an environmental look at the Operations Center at 1308 SE Grace Ave., and was forwarded to Ecology in mid-April.

Marv Coleman, site manager/inspector for Ecology's Toxic Cleanup program, said he was asked by Gerd Hattwig, chief criminal investigator for the Environmental Crimes Unit, to provide comments about the adequacy of the proposal.

Coleman provided his input to Hattwig, and is waiting his reply before responding to city staff, Coleman said. He would not comment on what his input is.

Coleman is providing technical assistance to Hattwig in the criminal investigation of the Operations Center, he said, because the criminal unit is in charge, not the toxic cleanup unit.

The site could be placed under the state Toxic Cleanup Program, Coleman said, if hazardous waste is found buried under the alleged several years worth of landfill.

Currently, the plan is to investigate and remediate the area if warranted, Coleman said.