Two pastors went to school, worked
together
It was an easy decision for Dwight Hires, pastor at La Center Evangelical Free Church, to donate a kidney to former school mate and fellow pastor Rich Stafford of Damascus, Oregon.
The successful Jan. 14 operation may have added 10 years to Stafford’s life while Hires expects no long-term limitation to his life style.
The operation took place at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland, a Legacy Health System facility, where the medical director, Dr. Robert Bennett, is also a La Center resident.
“It feel phenomenally well,” said Hires three days later. “If anything, I want to get the word out on this--there are no long-term consequences. I want to motivate someone else to donate a kidney. And it’s immensely valuable to the recipient.”
Hires and Stafford met when both were students at Multnomah Bible College in Portland in the late 1960s. Hires graduated from Multnomah in 1973. Stafford was drafted into the Army. “We were not really good friends then,” said Hires.
The two met up again when both served at Valley Fourth Memorial Church in Spokane. Hires was at that church from 1977 until 1986, and Stafford from 1977 until 1994. They became friends for life.
Hires moved on to Yakima for 10 years and has been at La Center for the past 10 years. Stafford served the First Baptist Church in Salem, OR, from 1994 until 1998, when he became pastor of Damascus Community Church in Damascus, OR.
Over the years, the two pastors maintained their friendship, keeping in touch by phone or in person once or twice a year.
Stafford, 60, developed diabetes. About two years ago, doctors noted anemia and told Stafford that he had chronic kidney failure. He would need a kidney transplant in the future, they said.
In a customary phone conversation in summer 2007, Stafford’s wife, Marj, told Hires about her husband’s need for a new kidney.
“I’ll do it,” said Hires without a moment’s hesitation.
“I knew I’d love to be a donor,” said Hires. “He’s a neat guy. It wasn’t a hard decision at all. I offered right over the phone.”
Hires knew something about transplants.
Hires sister, Connie Caron, suffered from leukemia and needed a bone marrow transplant. Hires’ brother was the donor. That was 27 years ago, he said.
“I know the value of transplants,” said Hires. “This is the fulfillment of a dream--to be able to donate a kidney.”
Hires has been on a bone marrow donor list for years. He is also listed as an organ donor on his driver’s license.
Hires, 58, had no idea whether he would be a good match for the kidney donation. He underwent a series of eight tests, each designed to eliminate him from the donation idea. He passed all tests.
Stafford’s family members were also considered, but they were eliminated because of the trend toward diabetes in the family and the likelihood that they would need functioning kidneys in the future.
The operation went smoothly. Hires went into surgery about 10 a.m., and was in recovery about 12:30 p.m. Stafford underwent surgery at 11:30 a.m. The kidney was outside a body less than half an hour, said Hires.
Hires said he expects to live an unrestricted life once he recovers from the surgery. He said the surgery involved small incisions and no stitches. He will need to choose certain types of painkillers and antibiotics in the future, but otherwise will live an unrestricted life, including the consumption of alcohol in moderation.
“I would volunteer to donate to a complete stranger,” said Hires. “I’m glad to talk to anyone who wants to talk about this further. It’s something a person can give without any real consequences.”
“That’s the unique thing about Dwight,” said Stafford. “From the moment he heard I had a need, he said he’d do it.”
“We kept in touch over the years, but not in close contact,” said Stafford, who described Hires as the type of friend who one catches up with quickly following a prolonged absence.
Stafford said he intends to be fully functioning. “I will take anti-rejection medication all my life,” said Stafford. Anti-rejection medication includes eight daily pills and steroids which have some emotional highs and lows affect. “That scares me a little,” he said.
“I’ll have to be careful,” said Stafford. “I’m not cured of diabetes. I wear an insulin pump.”
Stafford needs to be careful with his diet, too, consuming no more than 65 carbohydrates per meal.
Stafford’s father died of diabetes at age 76. He and his wife have three children, ages 28, 30 and 37. “Without a kidney transplant, I could have lived five years,” said Stafford. “The transplant added 10 years to my life expectancy.”
The combined operations cost about $250,000, said Stafford, mostly covered by insurance.
Those who vote in the Feb. 19 Washington Presidential Primary election must select a party--Republican or Democratic--and vote for a candidate of that party.
After the election, information about which party each voter selected will be available to the public.
Tim Likness, who heads Clark County Elections, said party selection information will be provided to both political parties, and is available to anyone who requests it, likely for a fee. The Reflector has requested that information.
Likness said that after 60 days, the party selection information is deleted from election records pursuant to state law.
Likness said registered voters will receive one ballot in the all-mail election. Voters will make a party selection on the confidential return envelope, then mark the ballot accordingly.
As ballots are received, said Likness, they will be divided by party selection. When the envelopes are opened, election workers will compare the party selection on the envelope with voting on the ballot to make sure the voter casts a ballot for a candidate of the party selected.
If a voter selects one party and votes for a candidate of the other, the vote will not be counted. If a voter chooses candidates from both parties, the vote will not be counted. If a voter does not select a party but votes for a presidential candidate, the vote will not be counted. If a voter votes for more than one candidate of the same party, the vote will not be counted.
The party selection portion of the green-striped affidavit envelope contains “oaths” provided by the two parties. Voters are asked to read the “oaths” and mark the checkbox following the “oath” of their choosing.
The Republican “oath” states: “I declare than I am a member of the Republican Party and I have not participated and will not participate in the 2008 precinct caucus or convention system of any other party.”
The Democrat “oath” states: “I declare that I consider myself to be a DEMOCRAT and I will not participate in the nomination process of any other political party for the 2008 Presidential election.”
Eight candidates will appear on both the Republican and Democratic ballots even if some have withdrawn from the national race.
Candidates on the Democrat side will be Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Christopher Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson.
Republican candidates on the ballot will be Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, Alan Keyes, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson.
Voters also have the option of writing in a candidate instead of choosing from the ballot list.
The Feb. 19 election will also contain money measures for the city of Battle Ground, East County Fire and Rescue, and the Hockinson School District. Voters in those jurisdictions may choose not to participate in the presidential primary while still casting ballots for the levy issues.
More information is available by calling Tim Likness, 397-2345.
Brandy Slagle
Staff reporter
Paul Zandamela is the newest member of the Battle Ground City Council. A political newcomer to the city, he won a close election race over John Idsinga, a two-term council member and mayor. Zandamela said he believes that Idsinga was a great mayor who worked hard for the city.
“Let’s not let election results determine the legacy of a person,” said Zandamela.
After being sworn in at the Jan. 7 meeting, Zandamela nominated himself for the position of deputy mayor. He lacked support from fellow councilors, who elected Alex Reinhold to the post, 6-1.
Zandamela jumped right into the meeting, asking questions of city staff and voicing his opinion on the upcoming parks bond. He is the only city councilor who has openly said he does not support the bond, and he isn’t reluctant to talk about it.
“I would rather be right and be alone than be wrong and be with everyone else,” he said.
Zandamela thanked voters during the meeting for showing him support during his campaign. The Mozambique native has come a long way to sit on the city council.
Zandamela was raised in a difficult time and place, he said. The pervasive Apartheid regime spread throughout South Africa. During his early childhood he saw the end of Portuguese rule over Mozambican natives, which was closely followed by a civil war.
His family was very poor, he said, and lived under the rule of a communist government. His father was a religious man who worked hard on the family’s farm, and Zandamela helped his mother run a produce stand along with his four brothers and two sisters. During their years of struggle, he said, they saw brutality and severe draught.
“That time really shaped a lot of the views I have,” he said. “My father always said that life is hard, but sitting around and complaining is easy. You have to do something.”
Zandamela was nearly 10 years old before he could read and write, which was not uncommon among youths in that area. Still, he said, he studied hard and attended high school in Mozambique.
After graduating he decided to leave the country and traveled south, which is where he met Latter-day Saint missionaries. He said he was impressed with their work and joined their efforts before immigrating to the United States.
Once arriving in America, Zandamela pursued a higher education. He studied at Rick’s College, also known as Brigham Young University - Idaho. He also studied at Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu, HI, pursuing a passion for business and foreign affairs.
Zandamela settled in Battle Ground after graduating. He became a small business owner, running a parking service for Vancouver businesses. He now holds a job with the federal government in a Portland office.
“We live in the greatest country in the world,” he said. “People complain about the way things are here, but in the many countries I have been to, this place is the most tolerant and accepting country in the world.”
Zandamela is married with three children. The couple teach emissary classes for their church and he said his children are very active in youth soccer teams.
During interviews prior to his November election, Zandamela had said he believed the city had not been fiscally responsible in constructing the skateboard park and moving ahead with the community center. He also said he was not in favor of decisions made by city manager Dennis Osborn.
“I’m not controversial,” he said. “But I do say what I think. I won’t just join other people so we can all get along.”
While serving on the council, Zandamela said he wants to look out for the city’s working families. He said he would like to keep Battle Ground as an affordable place to live and raise children, as well as for people to retire.
“I am so proud of this community and of these people,” he said. “I want to listen to them. I want them to be heard.”
He also praised the police department and public works department for all of their work
Zandamela said he would like to propose quarterly town hall meetings that allow citizens to learn more about what is happening in the community and more than a three minute time span to comment on it, which is the standard time allotted for citizens to speak at public meetings. He also said that he would like to hold similar meetings for the business community twice a year.
“I want to create a forum to hear more from people,” he said. “I don’t think they should be surprised by what the city is doing. They need to share their views.”
Academic honors, growth noted in State of the College Address
New and successful academic programs, “smart” classrooms, national speakers and international students, and an emphasis on health and wellness were all part of the 2008 State of the College Address delivered Jan. 17 by Clark College president Robert K. Knight.
“It’s All About the Students” was the theme of the hour-long talk, delivered to a packed Gaiser Hall on the Vancouver campus of the college.
“What makes us most proud is student success,” said Knight, who is in his first year as president of the community college.
Knight used video clips of student comments to punctuate his remarks.
Knight listed several successes that occurred in 2007. He highlighted a new Field Survey Technician program that has filled classes since inception. He noted that American Sign Language is now offered as a credit course, with a second-level class now added. He described the “impressive growth” of the Teaching and Learning Center which fosters lifelong learning. The college will graduate its first class of medical radiography students in March.
Knight described the college’s Corporate and Continuing Education program which allows students to search class schedules and register for classes online.
In addition to Clark College facilities at Washington State University Vancouver and the Town Plaza locations, Clark offers basic skills classes at 14 satellite facilities, said Knight, with plans for a new, $27 million building at 18700 SE Mill Plain Blvd., which will house 18 classrooms plus science and computer labs and other facilities.
Knight said Clark’s Running Start program has 1,067 students enrolled for winter quarter, which is a record.
For the 2006-2007 academic year, the college conferred 1,126 degrees and certificates, plus several hundred GED certificates. Clark presently has 75 international students from 26 countries. The college has expanded its nursing program by 20 percent, said Knight.
Following two national figures who spoke at Clark College in 2007--former counterterrorism czar Richard Clarke and former presidential advisor David Gergen--the college will launch a faculty speaker series, said Knight.
Knight described the college’s incentive-based program to live well which provides employees and students with points for doing something healthy. Participants may earn one point per day by doing a different healthy action. Points result in gift cards and prizes.
“To help people stay physically fit, we have created Penguin Paths throughout our main campus,” said Knight, who invited all those present to join him in walking those paths following the State of the College speech.
Clark College will note its 75th anniversary in October 2008 when a year-long “diamond jubilee” celebration will get underway. That same month, college officials expect representatives from the Northwest Association of Schools and College to conduct a 10-year accreditation visit.
Clark College was founded as a private, two-year junior college in 1933, and has been accredited since 1936.
“As we enter into this very special year in our history, I know that we will continue to be successful because of the talent and dedication of our faculty and staff, the commitment of our Board of Trustees and our Foundation, and because of the people who support us--the people that we serve,” concluded Knight.