Last night for fun, I did a Lexis-Nexis search for "Troutdale City Council". I found some oldie but goodie news headlines:
From the Oregonian, January 6, 2000: "TROUTDALE BUSINESSES WANT TO RUN WITH TROLLEY IDEA"
The Troutdale Trolley never panned out, but Mayor Thalhofer got his Mike Dukakis photo opportunity.
Next from the Oregonian is a January 27, 2000 headline,
"TROUTDALE FEUD DOESN"T MEAN MUCH TO PUBLIC"
This story reported that former Troutdale City Councilor Jim Kight sent a letter to the Troutdale Chamber of Commerce Executive Board, claiming super-human powers by his single-handed snagging of a $32,000 grant to study the "Troutdale Trolley" I mentioned above. Kight ended his letter with, "Should you need my assistance in obtaining other federal or Metro grants, please don't hesitate to call me."
Apparently, some folks at the Chamber didn't like Kight's claims of modesty. Some of them threatened Kight and the City with legal action for writing such a brag sheet using city resources. Who knew folks could be so snippy out here?
And finally, from the February 5, 1999 Oregonian, this headline classic:
"EMBEZZLER FACES SENTENCE OF JAIL TERM, PROBATION"
This story was about the Troutdale Chamber of Commerce's first Executive, Julie Sorenson. According to the article, Sorensen started the Troutdale Business Association in her home in the 1980's. (The Business Association eventually morphed into today's West Columbia Gorge Chamber of Commerce.)
Sorenson embezzled $45,000 from the Troutdale Chamber of Commerce over a period of several months during 1998-1999.. She was caught when the Chamber's Executive Board discovered an empty bank account. Sorenson pleaded guilty to embezzlement charges in November, 1998 and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years probation. She was also ordered to reimburse the Chamber almost $40,000.
Sorenson claimed her addiction to gambling was the cause of the embezzzlement.
Fast forward to January 2006.
Troutdale's trolley ran into oblivion.
Mayor Thalhofer ran for and won another term as mayor in 2004 beating Former Super Councilor Jim Kight.
The Chamber of Commerce is still keeping extremely close tabs in its bank accounts. So close, they're playing hide-and-seek with the City of Troutdale over the use of hotel/motel tax dollars given to the Chamber by the City.
Gambling addiction is still a problem in Oregon, and casinos have been proposed in both Fairview and Cascade Locks.
And so it goes. Sounds like the goings on of everytown, everywhere.
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