LEAD-ARMORY SALE
Lead testing, oil tanks delay sale of Astoria armory
(Information from: The Daily Astorian, http://www.dailyastorian.com)
ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) — Testing for lead contamination is helping delay the sale of the Astoria National Guard Armory building.
The Daily Astorian reports that the Friends of the Astoria Armory is buying the building for $500,000, with hopes of developing it into an events center. But after a recent investigation by The Oregonian/OregonLive documented lead contamination at other armories around the state, the community group and lender Craft3 agreed to hold off pending lead testing.
Bruce Jones, chairman of the Armory’s board of directors, said the goal is to provide a safe, healthy environment for all users.
The building was constructed in the early 1940s and was used primarily as was used mainly as a recreation center for troops. After World War II it became a venue for numerous local sporting events, concerts, political rallies and even a community roller rink.
Walt Postlewait, chief lending officer with Craft3, said there appears to be little threat of widespread lead contamination. He said there’s limited evidence that a firing range ever existed in the building.
The decommissioning of oil tanks on the property has also slowed the transaction.
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POLICE SERGEANT-DUI
Off-duty Portland police sergeant arrested for DUI
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Officials say an off-duty Portland police sergeant has been arrested in Beaverton for driving a city-owned vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that Sgt. Timothy Robinson, an 18-year police veteran, was arrested early Saturday and booked into the Washington County Jail.
Police spokesman Sgt. Greg Stewart says Robinson is a sergeant with the drugs and vice division, but he’s been reassigned to the telephone reporting unit pending the resolution of the case, per standard practice.
It wasn’t immediately clear if Robinson had obtained a lawyer.
IDAHO UTILITY-OREGON
Idaho utility seeks to negate Oregon fish passage law
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho utility is asking federal authorities to negate an Oregon law requiring fish passage as part of relicensing for a hydroelectric project on the Snake River that forms the border between the two states.
Boise-based Idaho Power in a notice made public last week asks the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to exempt the three-dam Hells Canyon Complex from the Oregon statute.
The company says the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution that has to do with federal authority over states pre-empts the Oregon law.
The Oregon law requires fish passage at the dams, but Idaho lawmakers have prohibited moving salmon and steelhead past the dams.
Idaho Power says it’s caught in the middle and its relicensing is in limbo.
The commission is taking comments through Dec. 30.
DOG STOLEN-ANIMAL CONTROL
Suspect breaks into animal control to steal pit bull
(Information from: KATU-TV, http://www.katu.com/)
ALBANY, Ore. (AP) — Albany police are asking for the public’s help after someone stole a pit bull from the Linn County Sheriff’s Office animal control facility.
KATU-TV reports that police seized the dog in August.
Sheriff Bruce Riley says deputies responded to an alarm at the facility around 3:45 a.m. Saturday. It was the second alarm at the site this week.
Deputies discovered a lock that had been cut off a gate leading to the dog kennels and found that the dog was missing.
They’re gathering evidence and using surveillance video for leads.
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NORTHWEST WEATHER
Freezing rain downs trees, powerlines
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Freezing rain moved into the Northwest, downing trees and power lines and stranding some light-rail passengers in Portland for about three hours.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports nearly 24,000 Portland General Electric customers remained without power Saturday.
MAX lines were delayed primarily because of ice on the east side of town and downed power lines closed a number of streets in the West Hills.
All lanes of Interstate 84 were closed Saturday morning from Troutdale to Hood River, because of icy conditions.
PGE spokesman Steve Corson says there was quite a bit of ice that weighed down the trees and frozen limbs started to drop.
The National Weather Service also issued an ice storm warning and winter storm warning for much of the Columbia River Gorge through early Saturday and said travel would be difficult.
In Washington, the State Patrol said Friday night that troopers had investigated 113 collisions in the past 24 hours in King County.
A winter storm warning was issued through Saturday afternoon for Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon.
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KENNEWICK MAN
Bill allows the return of Kennewick Man to tribes
SEATTLE (AP) — The Yakama Nation and other Columbia Basin tribes are praising the passage of a bill in Congress that will return their ancestor, known as Kennewick Man, to the tribes.
The return of the ancient skeleton will allow the tribes to rebury him in the manner their people have followed “since time immemorial.”
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray first introduced the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act and was joined by senators from Oregon and Idaho. Murray says a provision in the bill will start the process for returning the Kennewick Man to his “rightful resting place.”
The bill passed on Saturday and now heads to President Obama to be signed into law.
JoDe Goudy, chair of the Yakama Nation Tribal Council, said the fight to get the remains returned took 20 years but with the help of their friends in Congress, “he will be returned so that he may finally rest.”
FATAL HIT-AND-RUN
Police search for driver in fatal hit-and-run crash
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland police are searching for the driver of a vehicle involved in a fatal two-vehicle crash.
Officers responded to the crash near Northeast Columbia Blvd. at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday and found that one of occupants had died.
Officers were unable to locate the driver of the second vehicle.
The Major Crash Team is investigating the incident and is seeking the public’s help.
INDECENT EXPOSURE-CHARGES
Bend man charged with indecent exposure
(Information from: KTVZ-TV, http://www.ktvz.com/)
BEND, Ore. (AP) — A 32-year-old Bend man is under arrest on indecent exposure charges.
KTVZ-TV reports that police say David Walker Littlehale was booked into the Deschutes County Jail on five counts of first-degree indecent exposure.
Bail was set at $50,000.
Police say Littlehale exposed himself to women and girls on at least five occasions around Bend in the past seven months. The most recent incident was on Wednesday at a video store.
Police used security footage from several stores to identify Littlehale as the suspect.
The sites included the Regroup Thrift Store, Blockbuster Video and a Dollar Tree store.
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Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
