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Judge reduces accused father’s bail |
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CYNTHIA HAYS, center, grandmother of 17-year-old Kaedyn Kenneth Drake, lifts her hand as a court clerk, right, swears her in as a witness at Drake’s release hearing Wednesday in the video arraignment courtroom at Wasco County Courthouse in The Dalles. Drake appears in the video screen at left, broadcast from the NORCOR regional jail. Looking on are, from left, Wasco County Assistant District Attorney Leslie Wolf, Presiding Judge Paul Crowley of Hood River, and Robert Raschio, Drake’s attorney. Mark B. Gibson photo.
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County tables shelter levy
Oregon elections law guidelines do not allow enough time for Home at Last Humane Society animal shelter to post a special property tax levy measure on the May 18 primary elections ballot, shelter officials said Wednesday.
“Wasco County counsel told us it is too late legally to get it on the May 18 ballot,” said Janna Hage, Home at Last’s executive director. “The earliest would be the November 2010 ballot, which means we could not collect any money until July 1, 2011.”
To bridge a serious budget gap and keep the shelter from closing June 30 as warned, Hage and a group of supporters urged the public to attend a Wasco County Board of Commissioners meeting on Wednesday, March 17 at 1:30 p.m. at the Wasco County Courthouse, 511 Washington St., The Dalles.
“We are looking for options and solutions so that we can go forward with the shelter,” said Sheila Dooley, a Home at Last foster parent and incoming board member. “We don’t want to go back to the days when they were euthanizing 1,000 cats and dogs a year.” 
A The Dalles youth who prosecutors allege injured his infant son on more than a half dozen occasions was ordered held on $250,000 bail Wednesday at a hearing in the Wasco County Courthouse.
“The allegations that a parent – kin – has repeatedly committed significant acts of violence against an infant are extremely alarming,” said Circuit Court Presiding Judge Paul Crowley of Hood River in announcing his ruling in the case of 17-year-old Kaedyn Kenneth Drake. “These allegations are absolutely horrific.”
Crowley said he would reduce the total bail amount from $500,000 to $250,000, meaning that Drake’s family would need to post 10 percent — or a $25,000 cash bond — to have him released.
Officials on both sides of the Columbia River Gorge will be watching the news from Olympia carefully today.
The Washington State Legislature is scheduled to adjourn by the end of the day. Until that happens, there’s a possibility the state Senate will take up a bill to dissolve the Columbia River Gorge Compact, which would do away with the Columbia River Gorge Commission.
Engrossed Substitute House Bill (ESHB) 3132 surprised observers when it passed the state House by an overwhelming 92 to 6 vote last Thursday.
The bill went to the Senate Saturday, where it was assigned to the Ways and Means Committee. Though the deadline for action on new legislation has passed, there is an exception.
