DOG SHOTGUNNED AT LA CENTER HOME

Unknown assailant shoots pet in driveway

Bill Myers, staff reporter

    An unknown assailant, shooting a shotgun from a vehicle Oct. 10 at about 9 p.m., shot a family dog in the driveway of a residence near La Center.

    The dog's owner, La Center police officer Jerry Lester, said his dog, Simone, is in critical condition at St. Francis Animal Hospital in Vancouver.

    Veterinarians hope they can stabilize the dog enough for surgery.

    Lester said Simone never knew anger or fear. She is a docile family pet who adores family members and other people, he said.

    The 13-year-old pet has a Labrador/German Shepherd heritage and is so mild-mannered that she lets a cat sleep on her, said Lester.

    Simone has been the Lester family pet since she was six months old.

    "I heard the shot and went outside immediately," said Lester. He said he found Simone prone on the steps of the family pole barn. She was bleeding profusely and struggling to breath, he said.

    At the hospital, Simone was shaved to expose her wounds. They appeared to be from a light gauge shotgun, maybe a 20 gauge, said Lester.

    Lester said he can't understand why anyone would shoot a family pet. He is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the assailant.

    Anyone with information should call the La Center Police Department, 263-2745.

LA CENTER MAY BUY SEWER PLANT

Council members say ownership would accrue reserve fund, benefit rate payers

Bill Myers, staff reporter

    La Center city council members voted Oct. 12 to start negotiating an agreement with Clark Public Utilities to purchase the La Center waste water treatment plant.

    A unanimously-approved motion by council member Dale Smith authorizes negotiations with the utility by the mayor, city attorney, and public works and finance directors.

    Council members asked negotiators to bring a final recommendation, including a detailed financing proposal, before them for approval.

    City public works director Jeff Sarvis said the transfer will take about 6 months.

    The council decision followed a presentation on long-range sewerage facility needs conducted by hired consultants.

    The consultants said the city will grow from 2,074 citizens to a population of 9,352 as the city fills out its proposed urban growth area.

    Proposed additions to the La Center urban growth area extend west to and beyond I-5 and include land proposed as the site of a Cowlitz Indian gaming facility.

    The study determined that major upgrades to the treatment plant will be needed, costing $11.7 million between 2008 and 2010, another $7.8 million by 2018, and $1.5 million in 2020.

    Reserves are not set aside for upgrades by Clark Public Utilities, said Smith. Monthly sewer rates and sewer connection fees are used to maintain current operations and service debt, he said.

    As upgrades are needed, utility officials must seek new financing--at what could be much higher interest rates, said Smith. Such costs must be passed on to ratepayers, he said.

    The utility currently is servicing debt of $5.5 million on the plant, with $3.1 million of the debt in low interest public works trust fund loans.

    Under a possible purchase plan, the city could pay off $2.3 million of higher percent loans and assume the remaining $3.1 million of low-interest public works trust fund debt, said Smith.

    Consultants project that under city management, sewer rates would continue to increase, but at a slower rate than in recent years, said Smith.

    A rate history provided by utility officials shows monthly rates of $22.50 in October 1992 when the utility acquired the plant. In 2004, the rate went to $26.89 and in February 2005 the rate climbed to $35. System Development Charges, which were $1,000 in 1992, are now $5,000.

    Utility spokesman Doug Quinn said new plant construction completed in 2004 caused the recent hikes.

    A rate forecast showed monthly rates climbing under city ownership from $35 per equivalent dwelling unit in 2005 to $53.58 in 2009.

    Smith said utility officials have done a splendid job. They took on ownership of a problem sewer plant several years ago, managed it and rebuilt it, he said.

    "This would certainly be an agreement between friendly parties," said Smith.

    Quinn agreed. "We want the best for the city of La Center, and will help them and their citizens in any way possible," Quinn said.

    Utility CEO/General Manager Wayne Nelson said the transfer back to La Center will have no financial impact on the utility's electric or water system customers.

 BOB HAMEL KNOWN FOR GENEROSITY, SERVICE TO OTHERS

    Former Battle Ground citizen of the year, community activist and renowned auctioneer Bob Hamel died Oct. 12, 2005, at Southwest Washington Medical Center in Vancouver.

    Hamel had undergone cancer treatments earlier this year, and contracted pneumonia earlier this month.

    Hamel lived in the Battle Ground area for about 25 years, during which time he operated two stores, traveled around the country conducting auctions, and provided free auctioneering services to raise money for various community causes.

    Hamel is remembered by family members as a "man with a big heart" who loved the feeling of giving to others.     He is also remembered as a very sentimental person who collected many items. At the time of his death, his inventory of furniture, toys, antiques and collectibles filled a barn. He was not able to sort through the items as he had wanted to do.

Services

    Services for Bob Hamel will be held Thurs., Oct. 20, 1 p.m., at Bethel Lutheran Church, 12919 NE 159th St., Brush Prairie, followed by burial at Memory Memorial Park in Vancouver. Layne's Funeral Home, Battle Ground, is in charge of arrangements.

Born in New York

    Robert Jay Hamel was born March 5, 1933, in Oceanside, New York, where he attended high school. He set bowling pins by hand in a bowling alley owned by the father of a friend.

    In 1950 at age 17, he moved to California where he worked as a bartender. He recalled meeting The Platters, and other singing groups, while in California.

    Hamel moved to Florida about 1961, lived with his sister, June, and worked as a milkman, delivering milk in jars.

    In 1963, he married Marci Hill. Before they divorced 4-5 years later, they had two children, Virginia and Todd.

    Hamel married Charlene in 1967 and moved to Illinois a year later where Robert Jay Hamel Jr. was born.

    A friend introduced Hamel to the auction business in Danville, IL, and auctioneering became his life's work.

    Hamel and Charlene divorced about 1972.

    Hamel traveled to Portland to visit friends during the holiday season in 1974. He enjoyed the area so much that he moved to Portland a month later.

    Hamel worked for the Paul Toland Co. selling tools at auctions throughout the area. He met Karen Adams in 1975 and together they continued to sell tools from a mobile auction truck.

    Karen and Bob married on Christmas eve 1977. Hamel adopted Karen's two children, Jason and Tammy. The family moved to Vancouver in 1978 when son Mike Hamel was born. They moved to the Meadow Glade area in 1980.

    For 3-4 years in the 1980s, Hamel conducted auctions for Stereo Super Stores and other stereo businesses. He and partner Larry Rader also conducted stereo auctions in various cities, including college towns.

    For about two years in the 1980s, Hamel operated an auction store in Battle Ground. He opened his own stereo store in Battle Ground, called Hamel Sound Center, about 1990. All the while he continued to conduct auctions elsewhere in the country.

    In the mid-1990s, Hamel conducted real estate auctions in California. About 1996, he began to auction furniture at locations all over the country. He was at one time employed by the Vancouver Furniture Company.

    Hamel conducted his last furniture auction in January 2005 in California.

    Hamel was diagnosed with throat cancer in October 2004, and underwent treatments in late January 2005. He was in a rehabilitation center for two months, then lived with his son Mike in Battle Ground before moving with Karen to Stevenson. He spent the last two weeks of his life in the hospital.

    Hamel is credited with starting and conducting fundraising auctions at Prairie and Battle Ground high schools, and with raising thousands of dollars for community projects, including fire department, sick children, paralyzed Trent Kunz, Chamber of Commerce, TODAY Foundation, ROCKSOLID Teen Center, and others.

    Hamel was a member of the Lewis River Rotary Club and Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He had worked on the political campaign of Tom Mielke. He enjoyed watching television, and crabbing along the Oregon coast.

    Hamel collected signed baseballs and antique Vaseline glass.

    He raised his family on his 10-acre Meadow Glade farm with an assortment of animals--cows, horses, ducks, chickens, pigs and a goat.

    His son Todd moved from Florida to the Hamel home at age 12. He moved back to Florida about 2001.

    His daughter Virginia lived with the family in Meadow Glade for about five years until 1997.

    Hamel's sister June Mund moved to Battle Ground in 1993.

    Hamels' generosity resulted in numerous certificates, plaques and awards. He was named Battle Ground Citizen of the Year for 2001. He had served as a volunteer with the Battle Ground Fire Department.

    Hamel is remembered as a very loving person who enjoyed family gatherings, especially at Christmas.

    Hamel was also a cook, often preparing dinner for the family promptly at 5 p.m. His son Mike and sister June recall that Hamel cooked everything on high temperature.

    Hamel was not a person to stay home, but enjoyed being on the go.

    Hamel was preceded in death by a brother, George Hamel, in 1990, and one grandchild. Survivors include Karen, a resident of Stevenson, sons Todd Hamel of Florida, Mike Hamel of Battle Ground, Robert Hamel Jr. of Illinois, and Jason Adams of Lynnwood, daughters Virginia Poole of Florida and Tammy Shull of Stevenson, sister June Mund of Battle Ground, and 13 living grandchildren.

 VANCOUVER PHOTOGRAPHER CALLS IT SEMI-QUITS

    Cliff Barbour, who has photographed life in Clark County for 22 years, was honored Oct. 12 by politicians, peers and friends     for his achievements in journalism and portrait photography.

    Barbour was feted during a fundraising event to benefit the Clark College Foundation.

    Barbour credited his Clark College education with his start in photography. He attended Clark 1979-83, and began photo work for the Clark College newspaper.

    Barbour specifically named Clark instructors Jim Lehman, Orv Iverson and Madeline Janovec with launching his photographic career.

    By 1983, Barbour worked for the Daily Journal of Commerce, and The Reflector in Battle Ground, and then expanded his career to include major events, political candidates and weddings.

    He has worked for the Anheuser-Busch corporation for 17 years.

    Barbour transferred from film photography to digital about 2000.

    "I'm a documenter, not an artist," said Barbour. "My wife Pat is the artist."

    "I could not have done this without her," he said.

    Barbour worked in landscaping in Utah, then decided to homestead in Canada. Enroute to Canada, however, he had car trouble and lived one year in a tent in Crescent City, CA. While there, he did gardening work for the city.

    Barbour then headed the gardening effort for the Unified Sewer Agency in Tigard, OR, then similar duties for the Vancouver Housing Authority.     His career path changed with his Clark College education.

    In 1984, Barbour took a now-famous picture of Booth Gardner and John Spellman who were running for governor. The photo with Gardner's clenched fist was used in several newspapers around the state.

    As part of the Oct. 12 ceremony, Barbour donated 10 violins to the Orchestra String Program conducted by the Evergreen School District. Various musical entertainment was part of the Oct. 12 event.

    Barbour said he plans to travel beginning early 2006, and photograph for telephone companies and others, "but at my own pace." He contemplates moving to Mexico, returning to the Vancouver area each December to perform as Santa Claus.

    The Barbours have two sons, Scott and Steve, both of Vancouver, and one daughter, Rebecca Lang, who lives in Portland.

    Barbour said he continues to enjoy photography. "I've loved every minute of it," he said.

    Scott Barbour plans to take over much of the business of Barbour Photography in Vancouver, and can be reached at 693-2391.

CITY/ SCHOOL DISTRICT LAND SWAP UNDERWAY

Marcus Brotherton, staff reporter

  Plans are in motion for the City of Battle Ground and the Battle Ground School District to exchange parcels of land.

  Members of the city council and school boards held a joint hearing Oct. 12 to forge a partnership in the matter.

  As proposed, the District would give 3.8 acres on the corner of N Parkway Ave. and W Main St. at the southeast corner of Battle Ground High School to the city in exchange for the City's 20 acres of uplands located in the southern portion of an 80 acre site at 20521 NE 112th Ave., known as the Remy property.

  The District's site currently houses the for high school economics building, the former District administration building, and three portable buildings.

  The District site does not include the Battle Ground library building, but the City has entered into an agreement with Fort Vancouver Regional Library officials to have first right of refusal to purchase the building, said City manager Eric Holmes.

  If the exchange goes through, the City would use the Parkway and Main site to build a community recreation facility. The District would build a K-8 school on the Remy property, but not the second K-8 campus funded by a bond measure passed in March 2005.

  For that campus, a property search is underway toward the east side of the district, said assistant superintendent Lynn Hicks. Studies have shown large pockets of students in the Venersborg and surrounding areas, she said. A new school on the east side would take pressure off the Maple Grove campus in the city, she said.

  The District would "bank" the Remy property site for future use, Hicks added.

  The rest of the Remy property would be turned into some sort of regional wetland mitigation bank for passive or active recreational facilities, Holmes said. Walking trails and ball parks may be part of the plan.

Cost factors

  City and District officials have been considering the exchange for more than a year in closed sessions as allowed by law.

  Both the City and District have had appraisals completed of their respective properties, as well as review appraisals done of each.

  Appraisers in the initial appraisal valued the lands within about $35,000 of each other.

  PGP Valuation priced the Remy site at $117,556 per acre, or $2.352 million total.

  Jo Ellen Jarvis, MAI, priced the Parkway and Main site at $609,840 per acre, or $2.317 million total.  

  But the City's second appraisal, this time done by PGP Valuation, lowered the Remy property value to $2.2 million.

  The second appraisal of District property, this time done by Jo Ellen Jarvis, MAI, also lowered the District's property to about $1.6 million. The first appraisal established a square foot value of $14, while the second used $10 per square foot.

  Taking into account both appraisals, City and District officials looked for ways to mitigate the gap.

  Both the City's appraisals were completed before a new City Critical Areas Ordinance was adopted. The ordinance lowered the Remy property value to $1.98 million because of a need for more wetland and habitat protection on site.

  The City has also commissioned appraisals on several properties for right-of-way acquisitions that suggested $12 per square foot, which brought the District property to about $1.986 million, a difference of about $6,000 from the final Remy site valuation.

  "Appraisal is an art, not a science," Holmes said. "It's based on value judgments."

  Based on the analysis and data, the properties are of like value, Holmes added.

Impacts

  Removal of any buildings on each site would be the responsibility of each originating owner.

  The Remy property contains an abandoned house and some outbuildings.

  Discussion is underway concerning the former home economics building, the large brick structure that faces onto Main St., which may be deemed historic architecture and rehabilitated, or may also be considered cost-prohibitive to restore.

  There is also a deed restriction recorded against the Remy property at the time the City acquired it. The restriction is intended to assure that the site is used for public purposes.

   On Oct. 12, Council and Board members expressed unanimous approval of the exchange.

  "Any time you can create a partnership where everybody benefits, it's great," said mayor John Idsinga. "It's great for citizens. It's great for kids. And it's great for the community."

  "I'd love to see this happen," said Board member Mark Pelletier. "Our thinking is long term. We've got to have property down the road, and [the Remy site] would be wonderful property."

  City staff has been directed to prepare a draft exchange agreement by January.

BG MAN PLEADS GUILTY TWICE IN DEATH OF TODDLER

Heidi Wallenborn, news director

  Because of a recent Supreme Court decision, David E. Derosia again pleaded guilty to second degree murder for the death of a 22-month old Battle Ground boy in May 2001.

  Derosia, 27, faced Superior Court judge Roger Bennett on Oct. 12, who will sentence Derosia on Nov. 22. His original conviction in 2001 was for second degree murder based on assault.

  But in a recent decision, Supreme Court justices ruled that state law didn't allow for murder charges for someone who kills a person during an assault. They ruled that intent to kill cannot be proven. As a result, Derosia's conviction was overturned.

  In 2001, Derosia, then 22, lived in Battle Ground with the boy's mother, Maria T. Jensen, then 35. The couple met where they worked at McDonald's in Battle Ground in February, then moved into an apartment together at 111 SW 3rd Ave., #2. They lived together about one month before the incident occurred. They planned to marry later that month and move to Wisconsin where Derosia's mother lived.

  Jensen left to speak with a friend at McDonald's, records show, and left the toddler in Derosia's care.

  On May 16, Clark County sheriff's deputy Todd Young was flagged down on W Main St. by Derosia who was carrying the injured boy, Lewis Strickland. He told the deputy that the child had fallen down a flight of stairs and struck his head.

  Strickland was taken by Life Flight to Emanuel Hospital in Portland. He died at about 4 p.m. the next day.

  Derosia then gave varying accounts of what happened.

  First he told Jensen's mother that he'd put the boy down for a nap, then heard a "blood curdling scream." Derosia said he found the child at the foot of the stairs, not moving.

  Changing t