Oakdale Leader from Oakdale, California • 3

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1999 PAGEA-3 (0akbale leaber Fire chief going out in a blaze of glory Colleagues, council praise Houk contributions to city's protection Trial set in elder attack The man suspected of stabbing two elderly Oakdale residents with a pair of scissors was given a pretrial hearing date of Dec. 30 and a trial date of Jan. 10,2000. Terry Wade Krauss, 38, of Ceres was held to answer on suspicion of attempted murder, kidnapping for the purpose of committing robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and other felony charges earlier this month. His court dates were set at his Oct.

26 arraignment. Krauss is accused of forcing his way into a residence in the senior complex at 250 So. Wood Avenue and cutting an 87-year-old woman on the throat with scissors found in her apartment and stealing several items including an antique Civil War Musket that police are still searching for. Her assailant then forced her to knock on a neighbor's door where he robbed a woman in her late 60s of cash and credit cards after slabbing her above the collarbone. Assistant District Attorney John Gould said Krauss is being tried as a three-strikes offender, which carries a 25 years-to-life sentence.

or to ask questions." Houk was instrumental in creating a county-wide "hazmat" team capable of responding to incidents involving hazardous chemicals and materials. He helped two city firefighters, Captain Rick Morgan and Lt. Rick Bachman, earn the highest state rating for hazardous material and represent Oakdale on the response team. He accomplished his objective of increasing manpower and reestablished the position of fire marshal disbanded in 1 995 because of budget restraints. Departmentally, there was little to improve on except the relationship between the chief's position and personnel, Houk said.

"This department has always been a front runner in innovation and the way things are done," he said. "They were the first to go to five-inch hose which every fire department uses now and the first in the slate with defibrillators on their fire trucks." The only difference between when he arrived and now, he said, is the department is more diversified with more personnel taking responsibility for carrying out the many programs established. "Our fire prevention program has always been good," he said, "but now it's the best it's ever been." County Fire Warden Russ Richards, who has worked with Houk as an investigator and been his friend for 25 vears or more, believes his strength By WILLIAM JOHNSON Staff Writer Progressive and innovative is how many describe Bill Houk who steps down Friday after five years at the helm of the Oakdale City Fire Department. "It's time," said Houk, 53, about his reasons for told the city I'd give them five years and I did." "He'll be hard to replace," said Oakdale City Administrator Bruce Bannerman. "He brought the department together and set it on the right track.

Our next chief will inherit a department in very good shape." Houk came to Oakdale in 1994 after a long career ith the Modesto City Fire Department. He made an immediate impact upon his arrival in Oakdale, according to Bannerman and other officials. "He's done a terrific job for us." said Bannerman. "He's been a good ambassador for the department and the city government. He established better cooperation between us and rural and improved relations with other departments including Oakdale Police." "He is an incredible person and a great fit for Oakdale as he instantly became a part of the community," said Mayor Pat Kuhn.

"He was very approachable, which makes it easier on the mayor to have a department head people can go to freely with problems Oakdale City Fire Chief Bill Houk plans to turn in the keys to his command truck on Friday as he semi-retires from public service after 30 years as a firefighter, for his plans include possibly working part-time for Oakdale Rural Fire District. was as people person and his influence goes beyond Oakdale. "I've worked with a lot of people in the state and I think the world of Bill," he said. "He's a fire chief who participates and was fully involved in the department's training, hazmat and fire prevention programs among others. He's verv diverse in his work "Other than that, I have no regrets." he said.

"I love the department and the city as they have both been so good to me." Houk started his firefighting career in March 1 969 with Modesto City Fire after he finished serving in the U.S. Navy. He was named Fireman of the See CHIEF page A-5 and his opinion is valued in the fire service throughout the county and the state." Houk, ho plans to take a month off and then maybe work part-time for Oakdale Rural Fire District, said his only regret was not starting renovation of the fire house on East Street sooner so he could see it completed. Amtrak service moved to Modesto streets. Riverbank city councilmembers battled hard and long to keep the Amtrak stop in Riverbank including traveling to southern California last year at their own expense for a crucial meeting of the California Transportation Commission.

Councilmembers argued the Riverbank station had served area residents perfectly well for many years and the Modesto depot would not draw any more passengers than the 48,000 a year estimated to use the local station. four miles to the south of Riverbank's depot. Northern Burlington and Santa Fe Railroad which owns the Riverbank depot, has declined to make it available to the city and plans to use it for storage and maintenance for the crews which work in the large switching yards here. The community of Riverbank grew up in the early 1900s around the railroad tracks, the switching yards and roundhouse for locomotive maintenance aad repair. The depot itself reportedly was built in 1906 and originally stood at Patterson and First After serving passengers for over 90 years.

Riverbank's train station has closed and been replaced by the new depot in Modesto. The Amtrak station on Talbot Road shut down Saturday, Oct. 30 and the Modesto station opened the next day at 7:30 a.m., according to Larry Jones, ho is senior manager for Amtrak and responsible for organizing the changeover. Modesto officials are planning a Nov. 19 grand opening for the new station which was built for $1 .7 million Store windows shot out; carsrunimagiBd thtough Driver of this SitoiBra Custom Farming Truck, Tim Drake of Turlock, left, inspects damage to the trailer which buckled Thursday while mossing over railroad tracks on So.

Sierra Avenue. Lt. Lester Jenkins of Oakdale Police, right, directs already-heavy traffic on the road from being detoured around railroad crossing work being done on So. Yosemite Avenue. Drake was hauling compost from Modesto.

first involved a window being removed at 355 West St. and the vehicle ransacked. What was taken has not yet been determined. A portable radio valued at $700 and a portable phone valued at $200 were stolen from a pickup at 317 West St. A pack of cigarettes was stolen from a pickup at 411 West St.

window at Endless Summer Tanning Salon and several windows at Pizza Plus, according to Oakdale Police. "Nothing was stolen," said Lt. Lester Jenkins. "They just shot the glass out with either an air rifle or pistol." Items were stolen the previous Tuesday night on West Street when three vehicles were broken into. The Vandals and burglars hit Oakdale last week in two separate rashes of incidents.

On Sunday, several windows in a business complex at 1214 West St. were shot out with a BB gun causing at least $1,800 in damage. Vandalized were two windows and a glass door at Sexton Realty, one Sharp-eyed owner spots stolen goods, 2 arrested "We also determined the owners of the Spotting items stolen from his home taken in a home burglary in May were being displayed for sale in front of Two Girls and a Guy Antiques. 1925 East FSt. "He reported seeing the items and after an investigation, we made the arrests," said Detective Joe Carrillo.

store had no knowledge the items had been stolen." Arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property and conspiracy to possess stolen property were Sylvia Haro, 35 and John Puckelt, 30, both of Oakdale. in front of an antique store, an Oakdale man tipped police which led to the arrest of two persons on felony stolen property charges. Oakdale Police received word an antique bathtub and stand-up sink (Dp iot? Laurel Crest Manor 700 LAUREL AVENUE OAKDALE www.hillcrestmanor.coi ITS We supply and process the forms Collect fees ONE TIME for both filing and publication Publish completed form and send proof of publication to the county LAUREL CREST Laurel Crest is a community designed to promote dignity, security and respect for all our residents in a home-like setting. Laurel Crest is an assisted living facility licensed by the Department of Social Services. Welcomes Residents who will benefit from assisted living.

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