BG NEIGHBORHOOD EVACUATED

Heidi Wallenborn

news director

A minor explosion and fire at Andersen Dairy, 305 E Main St., Battle Ground, caused an evacuation July 9 in a two-block area round the business.

Mike Ciraulo, Fire District 11 division chief, said superheated transmission fluid in a large compressor in the manufacturing plant caught fire and caused smoke.

At first, firefighters were concerned about the possible release of ammonia which is stored in the plant, he said.

A hazardous material team from Vancouver was called to assist, as well as Clark County sheriff's deputies. Six fire engines were onsite.

It took about one hour to determine that ammonia was not involved in the event, Ciraulo said, however the fire was located next to an ammonia system.

Plan B was to evacuate residents to outside of the city limits by half a mile, Ciraulo said, "which would have affected thousands of people."

"It went really well," Ciraulo said. "We had to play like it was worst case scenario. Fortunately the plant continued to operate and no one was injured. That's the important

TALKS PROCEED ON TIMMEN ROAD DEVELOPMENT

Alice Perry Linker

staff reporter

Creating a new development concept takes planning from both public agencies and private developers as La Center officials have learned.

The La Center city council is having a series of meetings with Altius, the company that plans to develop 32 acres at the Timmen Road-La Center Road intersection in mixed use.

As presently planned, the area will have a mixture of commercial buildings, single-family homes, townhouses and apartments. Three parks are planned.

During a June 28 city council meeting, council members urged the developers to focus on commercial development. The council has indicated that it would like to see 25 percent of the community in commercial development.

"We're thinking income, too, not just residential," said council member Bob Smith.

Council member Dale Smith agreed.

"Residential doesn't support city services," he said.

Council members indicated they would like to see a minimum of 25 percent of the development in commercial use.

"We've tried to come up with a way to make commercial viable there," said Randy Printz, lawyer for Altius. "Most folks won't buy cars, refrigerators or groceries on this site."

Printz said the major commercial development should be at the junction of La Center Road and I-5.

Printz said, however, that the mixed-use development would allow residents to walk to shops and restaurants.

Dan George, a designer for Altius, said that the development would have "an opportunity for pedestrian connectors."

"The idea is you would have commercial services there," George said. "You would come home, go to dinner there."

The commercial section will also contain apartments or condominiums above shops, and George indicated that some buildings may have three stories.

The Timmen Road-La Center Road mixed use development cannot proceed until it has been annexed into the city. At the same time, the city will require a development plan. The developers have said that they would like to begin work by summer 2007.

Under the developers' plan, the density could go as high as 22 units per acre, but whether the city council will support that density remains a question.

"I'd like to study it (the plan) some more," Bob Smith said.

The council and developers agreed to meet again in about 30 days.

Alice Perry Linker

staff reporter

Woodland City Council members ended a routine meeting July 3 by announcing that they want more control over department spending.

Council member Jim Tone led the discussion, saying that there have been times when departments have purchased items that the council had not authorized.

Tone criticized the public works department for renting a submersible pump before asking the council's permission. The council authorized acting public works director Jim Hough to rent the pump for the summer.

"No one talked about renting a submersible pump," Tone said.

Hough said the situation in the well became critical and a pump was needed immediately.

"We had to make that decision based on an operational need," Hough said. "We had very short notice."

The city is upgrading its water system and the pump probably will be needed only through the summer, he said.

"We don't want unauthorized expenses that we don't know about," Tone said.

Earlier this year, Mayor Doug Monge used part of his office supplies budget to buy cell phones for himself and the clerk-treasurer, Mary Ripp.

"The phones weren't approved in the budget," Tone said.

Monge said that his budget has funds for supplies.

"If there's $800 there, I may use $200 for some supplies," he said.

Police Chief Rob Stevenson asked, "If I have money budgeted for a car that I don't need, can I spend it on something else?"

"It can't be used in any other capacity unless it comes back to us," Tone replied.

The city's policy allows department heads to spend up to $1,500 of budgeted funds without council approval. Any expenditure above $1,500 requires a budget amendment, Monge said.

At one time, city departments were permitted to spend up to $8,000 of budgeted funds without going back to the council for approval.

Council member Bruce Summers agreed that the city needs a line-item budget.

"It seems like money is just used, and used for whatever," he said.

"The worry is public education (money) would get shoved into fuel (for law enforcement)," Summers said. "He (the department head) can say, 'I've got a fund budget.'"

Monge said that department heads often have to spend money as part of the city's day-to-day operation.

"It's part of what needs to happen to run a city," he said.

The council made no decision on spending, but Tone said he would like to continue the discussion.

The city will have a budget workshop Aug. 17-18.

Alice Perry Linker

staff reporter

Citing potential problems with flooding, transportation, stormwater removal and wetlands, a group of Woodland citizens has asked the city to conduct a full environmental impact statement before granting Wal-Mart the right to build a supercenter.

The group was to present an appeal to the city's hearings officer on July 11.

Vancouver attorney John Karpinski, who represents Woodlanders Against the Wal, has asked the city to withdraw its mitigated determination of non-significance, saying that the document does not adequately address a number of environmental and traffic issues.

"We are opposed to Wal-Mart," said Bryan Blair, chairman of the Woodlanders Against the Wal. "We don't feel there is a place in Woodland for Wal-Mart. It's generally death to the downtown, and some of our cornerstone people will have to pack up and leave. We can't afford for that to happen."

Another group, including the Port of Woodland, has asked that a proposed round-about on Dike Access Road be eliminated.

Darlene Johnson of Woodland Truck Line Inc. said the roundabout will make delivering goods to the Port more difficult. She said her objection is to the roundabout, not to the project as a whole.

State Sen. Joe Zarelli and State Rep. Richard Curtis of the 18th District wrote a joint letter asking the city to delay approval and construction of the traffic circle until a Washington Department of Transportation study is complete.

Karpinski's comments call the traffic impacts caused by the development "significant." He states that the project's traffic analysis underestimates the volume of traffic and does not address the impact of school traffic.

"The impacts of combining a roundabout with retail, industrial truck and high school traffic was inadequately analyzed and has significant, and potential catastrophic, adverse impacts," Karpinski wrote.

Other issues addressed by Karpinski:

** Potential flooding of Burris onto the Dike Access Road. Water as deep as 18 inches has flowed over the road, he wrote.

** Wetlands impact. Karpinski stated that the wetland impacts may exceed the half-acre threshold set by the army Corps of Engineers, and he said the project shows no wetlands buffers.

** Stormwater. "The designed stormwater system seems wholly inadequate to handle such a large impervious surface area," Karpinski wrote, referring to the large parking lot proposed by Wal-Mart.

Woodlanders Against the Wal was formed by a group of business people and residents who are concerned about the superstore's impact on the community, said Mike Schouten, owner of Save-on-Foods.

"A lot of us are concerned about how Wal-Mart would affect business," Schouten said.

The organization has attracted people who do not own businesses in Woodland but are "concerned about the impact on the community," he said.

Karpinski could not be reached for comment.

As proposed, the 163,055 square-foot Wal-Mart superstore will sit on 18.5 acres and have 843 parking spaces.

According to the proposal, the retail outlet will generate from 1,089 to 1,268 vehicle trips a day.

The store is allowed under the commercial zoning near the I-5-Dike Access Road interchange.

PARADE OF HOMES SET IN WASHOUGAL

Bill Myers

staff reporter

The 2006 Parade of Homes, an annual display of new home elegance organized by the Building Industry Association of Clark County, is set for Fri., July 14, through Sun., July 30, at Allegro Ridge in Washougal.

Eight homes, with price tags ranging from $670,000 to $899,999, will be featured in this year's Parade.

Builders participating in this year's Parade are Fantasy Homes by Vladimir, Fazzolari Custom Homes, GML Home Builders, Harbour Bay Homes, Ken Winkelman General Contractor, Omega Custom Homes, North Pacific Homes and Philip Custom Homes, LLC.

Omega Custom Homes, North Pacific Homes and Ken Winkelman are La Center builders.

Sponsors for the Parade include The Vancouver Columbian newspaper, Lumbermens, Action Mortgage and Golf Savings Bank, Harbour Bay Homes, Real Estate Services, Riverview Community Bank, Stewart Title, Superior Home Loans, Columbia Motorcycle-Harley Davidson, Westlie Ford, Miller Paint, Discover Mortgage, DeWils Interiors, NWSID (Northwest Society of Interior Designers), Sivad Studio, Boise Cascade, James Hardie Siding, and Comcast.

North Clark County visitors to Allegro Ridge can take SR-14 east to Washougal, turn left onto 32nd St., and right onto SE Evergreen Blvd.

After a left onto 39th St., and left on Q St., signs lead the way to the Parade of Homes.

Special events during the Parade will include Meet the Builder Days on Saturdays, July 15, 22 and 29, with each builder on site at their homes answering questions.

Color and Design tours may be scheduled in advance by calling 694-0933. Tours are scheduled July 17, 20, 24 and 27

Two custom-built playhouses, displayed at the Parade site, will be auctioned during the Parade event. Visitors will be able to enter silent auction bids. Proceeds benefit the Building Industry Association of Clark County (BIA).

For the first time, BIA officials are inviting the Southwest Washington Center for the Arts to be part of the Parade. Special custom art pieces will be displayed by builders in the Parade homes, with artists on site talking about their work. Performing artists will also present concerts and individual performances at the Parade.

The Parade of Homes show is open each day from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, $6 for ages 6-12, and free to children under 6.

Seniors ages 55 and up will receive a 50 percent discount on Tuesdays, July 18 and 25.

FIRE DISTRICT 3 REMOVES TOXIC GAS FROM PUBLIC AREAS

A new system that captures and removes vehicle emission toxic gas and diesel particulates from work areas and spaces frequented by the public has been installed at all four stations of Clark County Fire District 3.

Ray Steiger, spokesman for Fire District 3, said a $119,000 grant from the federal Emergency Management Agency, along with $13,000 of Fire District 3 funds, were used to pay for the new equipment.

Steiger said vehicle exhaust emissions and diesel exhaust pose serious health concerns, said Steiger. Asthma and cancer-related illnesses have been tracked to exposure to vehicle exhaust, he said.

New equipment at all four stations of Fire District 3 captures exhaust emissions, said Steiger, with airtight seals on vehicle tailpipes. The emissions are then piped to as central filtering point before being released outside.

The system does not reduce response times or affect vehicle performance, said Steiger.

EDITORIAL:

BGHS CLASS OF 1961 SEEKS MISSING PERSONS

The Battle Ground High School class of 1961 will gather in reunion Sat., July 29, at the Cedars on Salmon Creek, 15001 NE 181st St., Brush Prairie.

Happy hour is slated for 6:30 p.m., with photos at 7:30 p.m., and dinner at 8 p.m.

Organizers Jerine (Gasaway) Van Winkle and Nancy have been unable to locate some class members. Anyone with information about the following people is urged to call Van Winkle, 667-0212, or Nancy (Harteloo) Kjensrud, 892-8286.

Missing are: Dennis Anderson, Dwight Bradford, Darrell Bush, Bob Butts, Jeri (Cheney) Brosseau), Bob Cochrane, Dave Curtis, Susie (Golden) Wilt, Helen (Gruber) Beck, Joanne (Hallock) Allmaras, Barbara (Hull) Byrd, Mike Keksi, Beth (Knable) McQueen, Mike Lindsay, Sandy (McCune) Smith, Colleen (McMahon) Bonney, John Norby, Jackie (Nutt) Sandstrom, Diane (Peterson) Tent, Mervin Rappako, Rosalie (Reddig) Robinson, Ruth (Thornton) Larson, Eugene Toivonen, Kathy (White) Raich, and Vickie (Zoller) Frye.

BG FLOAT GROUP, CHAMBER SEPARATE

The Battle Ground rose float project, which has been conducted by a committee of the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce for about 15 years, is once again a separate entity.

Bill Tucker, secretary/ treasurer of the newly-formed Battle Ground Rose Float Corporation, said the float was a project of the Chamber primarily for insurance reasons.

Under new insurance procedures, said Tucker, the insurance cost is the same whether or not the Chamber is involved.

Tucker, who with his wife, Louise, chaired the project for seven years before turning it over to Don and Marlene Brown, said rose float finances have always been separate from the Chamber.

The float is constructed entirely by volunteers, with supplies and equipment purchased with money raised from the sale of fireworks, Portland rose festival pins, a quilt raffle, and a flower sale.

Tucker said the rose float group will deal directly with city officials for use of a building in which the float is constructed. The group pays rent for use of the former Chamber of Commerce building at Fairgrounds Park.

Tucker said the new Rose Float Corporation is a non-profit state corporation. Federal recognition as a non-profit corporation is being sought, he said.

The Corporation is headed by Don Brown, with Tucker, Marlene Brown, Sandra Helyer, Barbara Evans, Elaine Hertz and Fred Cavazos on the board of directors.

The financially-struggling Chamber of Commerce has borrowed money in recent years, using rose float assets as collateral.

Tucker said the project will remain in the hands of volunteers who will make decisions about design and decoration.

The float won the sweepstakes award in the 2006 Portland Grand Floral Parade, the top award in the parade and the highest of the numerous awards the Battle Ground entry has claimed.

Battle Ground has entered a float in the Portland parade each year since 1955.

Tucker can be reached at 687-3619.

PLANNERS RECOMMEND AGAINST RURAL-5 APPLICATIONS

The Clark County planning commission has recommended denial of three applications seeking changes from agriculture or timber zoning to Rural-5 residential use.

The Commission recommended approval of one other such application.

All four will go before the Clark County commissioners later this year.

Meeting May 18, the Planning Commission voted 3-2 against approval of the Fern Prairie application in which proponents sought Rural-5 zoning for 160 acres of Forest Tier 1 resource land located west of NE Ammeter Road and south of Stauffer Road at NE 23rd St. in the Washougal area.

The applicants proposed a cluster subdivision that would leave 114 acres for timber production.

The Planning Commission also voted 3-2 against a proposal to change the zoning on 20 acres of land zoned for agriculture to Rural 5, located at 4517 NE 379th St., La Center, owned by Barbara Smith.

And an application to change the zoning of 26.42 acres from agriculture to Rural 5 zoning at 32619 NW Pekin Ferry Road, Ridgefield, was disapproved with a 2-2 vote.

Marty Snell of Clark County planning said a majority vote in favor of such applications is needed for approval; a tie vote is a de facto denial, he said.

During the Planning Commission discussion of these three applications, county planner Darci Rudzinski said "the primary policy issues...revolve around the county's policies that direct preservation of resource lands for agriculture and forest use. Existing adopted county policy clearly supports the preservation of agricultural and forest land."

Rudzinski said county staff found the four applications to be inconsistent with county plans for the preservation of agriculture and forest lands.

County attorney Rich Lowry advised the planning commission that, if lands meet the criteria for resource lands, they must be designated as resource lands.

Lowry said changes are to be made on an area-wide basis, not just specific properties, unless an error was made in 1994.

Lowry said the law defines resource lands with three criteria: not having urban growth characteristics, primarily devoted to agriculture, and having long-term commercial significance.

Lowry said the Supreme Court has decided that the "primarily devoted to" criteria means that government can decide what it should be used for, not just what it is being used for.

"Your initial decision," said Lowry to the Planning Commission, "is whether or not this land continues to qualify as resource land. If it does, then that's the end of the issue, it has to remain in a resource designation."

Fern Prairie application

Attorney LeAnne Bremer, who represented the Fern Prairie and the Pekin Ferry applicants, argued that law requires agricultural and forest lands to have "long-term commercial significance."

Bremer said the timber "crop" at the Pekin Ferry property won't be ready for harvest for 40-45 years. "I think that long-term commercial significance assumes an ongoing commercial operation, not one that goes in fits and starts, that happens every 50 years or so."

Bremer noted that the Fern Prairie cluster development plan would generate more revenue for the county in property taxes.

Planning commission member Milada Allen debated that conclusion. "Just because this particular site may not be productive or economically productive at this point in time does not mean that it could not be in the future if there was somebody else who wanted to participate in the management of this particular land for forest productivity," said Allen.

Planning commission member Lonnie Moss, who subsequently resigned from the Commission after 10 years of membership, said the county has "never really taken a look at this issue of long-term commercial significance, there is no definition of that, there isn't even a work definition, let alone one that's in the code."

Moss questioned the use of zoning as a means to protect resources lands. "GMA has a noble goal in trying to protect the land base that resource industries depend on for their continued viability," said Moss. "It seems, though, that in 1994 (when the county adopted its current comprehensive plan), the only trick in the county's tool box or the only tool in the tool box was zoning. If you ask the farmers in Clark County, the real, few farmers that are left in this county, what they need to ensure their continued long-term commercial significance, I've got to bet that zoning would be last on their list."

"I simply don't think that zoning is the way to do this," added Moss.

Allen countered that evidence had not been provided to suggest that the forest use of the Fern Prairie site was no longer a viable resource, or that some circumstances had changed.

Speaking against the Fern Prairie application, Allen said "I have seen sometimes when you rezone areas, then there is pressure on the adjacent properties to do the same and so there could be some pressure to convert other timber lands that are adjacent to this particular property to non-timberland uses prematurely."

Allen said cluster zoning at the Fern Prairie site would result in "sprawl" development.

Moss questioned the definition of "sprawl," and quoted one county official as saying that five-acre zoning was sprawl.

"I don't think we can call all rural zoning sprawl," said Moss. "Is a one-acre lot sprawl? It if is, then is a 5-acre lot more sprawl? And if you accept that premise, then 160-acre lot must be a terrible amount of sprawl."

Allen was joined by George Vartanian and Ron Barca in recommending denial of the Fern Prairie application.

NE 379th St. application

Owner Barbara Smith described the NE 379th St. application as maintaining the rural character of Clark County while providing an opportunity for people to have access to outdoor arena, wooded riding trails, pasture turnouts and the amenities of a professional stable.

Attorney Meridee Pabst, representing the NE 379th application, said that while county plans provide for the maintenance of agricultural lands and their conservation, "there is no absolute prohibition on changing or redesignating agricultural lands if it's appropriate."

And, said Pabst, the county has no policy against a net loss of agricultural lands. "So they are subject to re-evaluation," she said.

Pabst noted that county plans call for 14,728 additional people in rural areas by 2023. "These people need somewhere to live and this applicant has a great option to offer them," she said.

Pabst quoted the testimony of others as regards the need for rural lots and opportunities for living in the rural area.

Allen, Vartanian and Barca voted to deny the NE 379th St. application.

Pekin Ferry application

As regards the Pekin Ferry application, Bremer said, "There's a flaw in staff's reasoning in the staff report that once land is designated resource, it's somehow immutable."

Bremer acknowledged the goal to preserve agricultural lands, "but that assumes the land was appropriately designated in the first place. Resource designations must by law be evaluated from time to time to determine whether they still meet the criteria and the policies and the definitions."

Vartanian and Barca opposed the Pekin Ferry application, and prevailed in the 2-2 vote.

Coleman/Crockett application

Then on June 15, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the Coleman/Crockett application in which proponents sought Rural 5 zoning for 18 acres of agricultural land located at 25211 NE 50th Ave., Battle Ground.

Snell said proponents of the Coleman/Crockett application made a stronger case to the Planning Commission and provided testimony from an agricultural economist.

Clark County planners had recommended denial of all four applications. All four will advance to the Clark County commissioners, along with other comprehensive plan changes, later this year, possibly in October, said Snell.

Conservation of electricity is one way to maintain or reduce the cost of electricity in Clark County, according to Jim Malinowski, a candidate for commissioner of Clark Public Utilities.

Malinowski, who is challenging incumbent commissioner Carol Curtis for a utility board position, spoke last week at a meeting of the La Center North Clark County Chamber of Commerce.

Malinowski said Clark County residents enjoyed low power rates until 1994 when officials of Clark Public Utilities decided to reduce their reliance on power from the Bonneville Power Administration and instead purchase power on the open market and construct the River Road generating plant.

Now, said Malinowski, Clark County residents pay about 7.36 cents per kilowatt hour of electricity compared to about 4.45 cents in Lewis County which acquires all of their power from Bonneville. Because of the existence of the River Road plant, Bonneville's rules limit its sales to Clark to about half of the utility's power needs.

The fast-rising cost of natural gas, used to generate electricity at River Road, has contributed to the higher cost of power in the county, said Malinowski.

Conservation, or the substitution of other less-costly power for River Road electricity, could push rates down, said Malinowski, if an agreement could be reached with Bonneville for continued supply at present levels.

Malinowski said the utility is fortunate that Bonneville will supply 45 percent of the utility's power needs. That amount was based on the fact that River Road is capable of meeting the other half of the utility's needs.

Because electricity rates from Bonneville are lower than the cost of generating power at River Road, rates to residents could go down, he said, as more federal power is used by the utility.

Malinowski can be reached at 247-6404.

TWEEDELL SLATED TO APPEAR IN COURT

Terri Ann Tweedell, 54, was slated to appear in Clark County Superior Court July 11 on charges of first degree theft and second degree theft involving the assets of a now-deceased man that she had befriended.

Tweedell has also been charged with the unlawful practice of law by allegedly drafting or completing legal documents and presenting them to the victim for signature. She also allegedly procured others to falsely sign the documents as witnesses and notary even though they did not actually witness the signing.

Tweedell was arrested June 29 by Battle Ground police following an investigation by Adult Protective Services and Battle Ground police.

Clark County prosecutor Art Curtis is seeking a sentence range above the standard range because Tweedell allegedly used her position of trust in the commission of the offenses, and because she knew or should have known that the victim was vulnerable or incapable of resistance.

Todd Pascoe was appointed by the court to represent Tweedell. Tweedell posted $15,000 bail and was released from Clark County Jail June 30.

According to court records, Tweedell took advantage of Jaroslav Sedivy, 74, before and after his death on March 7, 2006.

Melissa Carlson, case worker with Adult Protective Services, a state agency, investigated allegations that Tweedell had isolated Sedivy from his family and friends, took advantage of him when he was ill and unable to make sound decisions, and stole more than $10,000 in money and items of value from him. Carlson's report in court documents states that Tweedell obtained Power of Attorney for Sedivy while he was hospitalized at Southwest Washington Medical Center on Feb. 1, 2006.

Within one week of obtaining the Power of Attorney, Tweedell wrote herself a check from Sedivy's checking account for $2,000 which she described as a "gift" to herself from Sedivy, court documents state.

During the same week, Tweedell wrote another check out to "cash" for $5,000, court documents state. While Tweedell said she took that money to Sedivy who was then living at Parkway North Care Center, the money was never located, records state, and officials at Parkway North said they had no record of such money.

Officials at Parkway North told investigators that Tweedell dominated the interview with Sedivy when he was interviewed at admittance. "Terri made numerous statements to the effect that Jaroslav (Sedivy) traveled the world and obtained many valuable treasures," a Parkway North official told investigators. "Terri further stated Jaroslav's daughters and ex-wife had no idea how valuable the treasures were and if they were to get a hold of the treasures upon Jaroslav's death, they would probably sell them at a garage sale."

The Parkway North representative said Tweedell gave an example of a leather Bible from the 1700s that Tweedell stated was worth $1 million and should be in a museum.

After Sedivy died, Tweedell reportedly made several unauthorized purchases using Sedivy's credit cards. Court documents state that Tweedell admitted to using Sedivy's credit card to take her grandson to the movies.

Tweedell also reportedly admitted purchasing a plane ticket for herself, and charging $525 to the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce. She reportedly claimed that both of these charges were accidental.

Cheryl Yarwood, chair of the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce board, said Chamber staff are reviewing records to determine what the $525 payment was for.

The Chamber of Commerce is listed in court documents as a victim, along with Sedivy's family.

Carlson also reported that Tweedell made funeral arrangements at Layne's Funeral Home for Sedivy, using Sedivy's credit card. Tweedell also used one of Sedivy's credit cards to pay off an existing debt of $4,020 her family owed Layne's for services provided when Tweedell's mother-in-law passed away last year, documents state.

Court documents also show that Tweedell cashed two more unauthorized checks from Sedivy's account, one to herself for $300, and another written to "cash" for $1,000.

Family concerned

Sedivy's daughter, Patsy Sedivy, a resident of Kentucky, said her father met Tweedell in late 2005 at a coffee shop Tweedell was then operating.

Patsy moved from Vancouver to Kentucky in 1995.

Patsy said she tried to get her father to move to Kentucky, and her father tried to get her to move back to Vancouver.

"We talked all the time," said Patsy.

Unable to reach her father on the phone in January 2006, Patsy said she came to Clark County to visit her ailing father who suffered from diabetes and lung problems.

"He told me he trusted the Tweedells up to a certain point," said Patsy, "but money makes anybody greedy," Sedivy reportedly told his daughter.

Patsy said her father described Terri Tweedell as "controlling."

Patsy said Tweedell had moved all Sedivy's possessions from his apartment to a storage unit. "But he wanted to go home," said Patsy.

Patsy claimed Tweedell did not give family members immediate access to the storage unit.

Patsy told investigators that her father's rings were valued at about $3,500, and his necklace at $7,000.

Patsy told investigators she questioned Tweedell about the jewelry and Tweedell told her she had removed Sedivy's rings immediately upon his death. Tweedell allegedly told Patsy that she had taken the rings to her home but since misplaced them.

Tweedell allegedly told Patsy that she had no idea what happened to the necklace.

Sedivy was married in 1959 and divorced in 1966. His former wife, Inger Garcia, now a resident of New Mexico, said she and Sedivy have remained friends over the years.

"We were friends," said Garcia. "We talked on the phone. He told me all about his life, and I told him about mine."

Garcia said Sedivy had served in the U.S. military in Vietnam.

Garcia said she had been unable to reach Tweedell on the phone during her ex-husband's illness.

"He wanted to leave stuff to Patsy," said Garcia of Sedivy. "We were in touch continuously with him."

Lt. Roy Butler of the Battle Ground police department, said search warrants were executed at both Tweedell's home at 1912 NW 3rd St., Battle Ground, and at the offices of the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce where Tweedell worked.

Butler said some of the items reported missing were found at Tweedell's home, not at the Chamber.

Butler said Tweedell has never been convicted of a criminal offense.

OBITS:

THOMAS SHREVE

Thomas William Shreve, 61, died July 7, 2006 in La Center.

Born Nov. 9, 1944 in Akron, OH, and lived in California and Oregon before moving to La Center about eight years ago.

A U.S. Army veteran, Shreve worked as an electrician. He was employed by the Nabisco Co. for 10 years.

Shreve was a Mason. He loved the outdoors and working with wood.

Shreve was preceded in death by his mother, father, step-father and a sister, Thelma Pletcher. Survivors include daughters Cynthia Mulhauser and Julie Toth, both of Ohio, son Bradley Shreve of Ohio, and sister Carol Felber of Ohio, and seven grandchildren.

Services and burial were in Ohio. Layne's Funeral Home, Battle Ground, handled arrangements.

HARRY PRICE

Harry Lee Price, 80, died July 9, 2006, in Vancouver.

Price was born Oct. 6, 1925 in Blue Ridge, WY. He lived in Vancouver and was a Clark County resident for nine years.

An electronics technician, Price worked for the Federal Aviation Administration following 21 years of service with the U.S. Army. He was a World War II veteran.

Price attended New Heights Church and was a member of the HAM Radio Association. He enjoyed crossword puzzles and read the Bible regularly.

Price was preceded in death by his wife, Eva "Morene" Price. Survivors include daughters Brenda Hanson of Washougal and Patricia Bury of Spanaway, sons Fred E. Price and Roger Price, both of Oregon, Larry Price of Longview, Kenneth Price of Brush Prairie, Donald Price of Wisconsin, and Daniel Price of Vancouver, sister Doris Bird of West Virginia, 20 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Graveside services are set for Thurs., July 13, 1 p.m., at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, with Layne's Funeral Home, Battle Ground, in charge of arrangements.

Barbara G. (Cawley) Bergren, 79, died July 8, 2006, in Vancouver.

Bergren was born April 16, 1927, in Portland, and lived most of her life in Vancouver. She attended Manor Grade School and graduated from Battle Ground High School in 1945.

During World War II, Bergren worked in the blueprint and photography departments at the Vancouver shipyards. She moved to California where she worked at March Air Force Base, then returned to Vancouver.

Bergren worked in the finance department for Barnes Veterans Hospital in Vancouver and later was the bookkeeper for Ski Bowl School. For the past 17 years, she was owner and bookkeeper at McKenzie Travel in Vancouver.

Bergren enjoyed traveling and times spent at Long Beach. She was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church, Manor Garden Club and the Daughters of the Pioneers. She also enjoyed spending time with her family.

Survivors include widower Bob Bergren, at home in Vancouver, daughters Nancy Ross and Jan Treharne, both of Vancouver, brothers Dave Cawley of Anacortes, Glen Cawley of Buckley and Larry Cawley of Vancouver, and two grandchildren.

Services will be held Sat., July 15, 11 a.m., at Elim Lutheran Church, 182nd Ave. at 159th St., Hockinson, with viewing preceding at 10 a.m. Graveside services will be held at 1:30 p.m., at Memory Memorial Park Cemetery, 6906 NE 144th St., Vancouver, with Layne's Funeral Home, Battle Ground, in charge of arrangements.

WANDA MEISNER

Wanda May (Burke) Meisner, 82, died July 7, 2006, in Vancouver.

Meisner was born May 1, 1924, in Battle Ground, and lived her entire life in the Vancouver and Battle Ground areas.

Meisner retired form Bonneville Power Administration. She had enjoyed traveling to the coast and fishing.

Meisner was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Bert Meisner, sister Mary Richardson and brother Cliff Burke. Survivors include daughter Pam Roderick-Colson of Vancouver, sons Gregg Meisner and Jeff Meisner, both of Vancouver, sisters Kathy Summerhill of Vancouver and Betty Burke of Battle Ground, brothers Paul Burke of Woodland and Herb Burke of Vancouver, five grandchildren, and her "grand-dog Fred."

A memorial service will be held Fri., July 14, 12:30 p.m., at Memorial Gardens Funeral Chapel, 1101 NE 112th Ave., Vancouver, with Memorial Gardens Funeral Chapel in charge of arrangements.

ELMER HALLSTROM

Elmer William Hallstrom, 73, died July 5, 2006, in Clackamas, OR.

Hallstrom was born March 25, 1933, in Chatham, MI, and lived in Clark County for 38 years, the past 36 years at his home in Brush Prairie.

Hallstrom served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He worked as an electrician for Bonneville Power Administration.

Survivors include wife of 47 years Irene Hallstrom, at home, daughters Sharon Smith of Battle Ground, Susan Carlson of Brush Prairie, and Julie Carlson of Battle Ground, sons Robert Hallstrom of La Center and William Hallstrom of South Dakota, sisters Leslie Hallstrom, Mary Ritola and Joyce Wood, brother Raymond Hallstrom, and 24 grandchildren.

Burial was at Elim Cemetery, Brush Prairie, with Layne's Funeral Home, Battle Ground, in charge of arrangements.

ROBERT PEABODY

Robert Edgar Peabody, 79, died June 30, 2006, in Vancouver.

Peabody was born March 18, 1927, in Kingsburg, CA, and lived in Woodland for 18 years.

Peabody served in the U.S. Coast Guard-Merchant Marines during World War II. He was a member of a retired railroad workers group, and Cascade Mariners, a Merchant Marine organization. He enjoyed woodworking, wildlife and fishing.

Peabody worked as a railroad freight conductor for the Santa Fe Railroad for 40 years.

Peabody was preceded in death by brother Clifford Peabody and sister Alice Gray. Survivors include widow Ruth Peabody, at home in Woodland, son Robert Peabody of California, daughters Carolyn Peabody, Jacquelyn Gaetze and Diana Sacca, all of California, seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, one niece and one nephew.

Graveside services were held at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, with Layne's Funeral Home, Battle Ground, in charge of arrangements.

DONALD R. HOLLISTER

Donald R. Hollister, 66, of Ridgefield, WA, died July 5, 2006 at home.

Hollister was born November 3, 1939, in Grants Pass, OR. He was raised in the Ridgefield area where he started and ran his own trucking company for several years.

Hollister is survived by his wife, Delores, daughter DeAnn Montalvo, sons Dennis Hollister and Daniel Hollister, both of Ridgefield, sisters Eva O'Connor of Oregon and Maxine Balfour of Kent, 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Hollister enjoyed clam digging, his hot rods, membership in North Country Cruisers, gambling and traveling in a motor home.

A memorial service was held July 9.

Davies Cremation & Burial Services handled arrangements.

BETTE MAE DEADRICH

Bette Mae Deadrich, 83, died June 29, 2006 in Battle Ground.

Deadrich was born Sept. 14, 1922, in Cleveland, OH, and lived for the past nine years in Washington.

Deadrich retired after working 20 years in a variety of retail clerk positions at Mervyn's department stores.

During World War II, Deadrich worked as a parts clerk at the Alameda Naval Air Station. She had been a florist before and following the war.

Deadrich loved antiques, crafts and cats.

Deadrich was preceded in death by brothers William and George Stoye, sisters Dorothea Boys and Eleanor Spencer, and daughters, Nancy Deadrich and Bettianne Buck.

Survivors included daughters Jan Robinson of Ridgefield, Dianne Deadrich of Nevada, and five grandchildren.

Davies Cremation and Burial Services handled final arrangements.