The Columbian from Vancouver, Washington • 9

VC Wf J1 Wf4-48 -Uwt j'f'- fr Vf 4 'J-( ('-J rVT VWV -i VW V'-' i'i kC "i -V V2 "'i 4 -'k 4 ''AVVI-VV' I Dec 22 1981 The Columbian Section 2 Page 9 Soldiers and sailors fund is county's little charity Page 11 BPA plans big jump in prices SEATTLE The new wear will bring yet another giant Bonneville Power Administration wholesale electrical rate Increase possibly more than 75 percent for sane customers utility officials say The Impetus behind the latest rate Increase is the skyrocketing costs of nuclear power plants being built by the Washington Public Power Supply System In Clark County where the PUD buys all its power from the BPA the federal rate increase could mean additional hikes in electricity rates for customers here nett falL Already the Clark County PUD has announced a February rate increase of 13 i percent and a 13 percent increase in January IMS But those figures were based on a BPA estimate that it would increase its power prices by 45 percent in 1982 If in fact the BPA rates Jump substantially higher than 45 percent an additional Clark Copnty PUD rate hike is likely some time in the fall said PUD spokesman Mick Shutt understanding I have is that the primary cause of the rate increase is WPPSS" said UB Rep A1 Swift D-Wash of it also will be attributable to planned conservation programs" While BPA announce the increase until early next year it has advised Congress the Northwest Power Council and some utility officials that it will be substantial lJ 1 have heard the figure of 50 percent for private utilities and perhaps an average of 75 percent for public John Wilson a power council staff member said The 1982 rate Increase will come on top of compounded rate boosts of 88 percent and 58 percent over the last two years increases which have been passed on to consumers Mail volume drops UPS business up KIH CMHUTh Oh-Mat of Santa Chuck Woolridge is real Sharing a little trucker dons Santa suit to spread the Christmas spirit been dressing up each December for the past few years and passing out candy canes at rest stops along Interstate 5 But this yuletide the company decided to let him off for a week to do his Santa duties in Grants Pass Eugene Cods Bay Portland and Vancouver He visited East Vancouver Child Care Center and both Vancouver hospitals Monday His truck brought double takes from other motorists It is equipped with a loudspeaker to spread Christmas music to the world snd signs announcing Santa on the sides With ruddy cheeks and a deep voice Wooldrige's disguise is among the best around But there are hazards to having an Another photo Page1 By SALLY JAMES The Columbian Laughing men in red velvet suits are a common sight in these last few days before Christmas Their beards are take their teeth have too pearly a glow and the pillow they claim as a paunch keeps shifting But there was a real beard oa the Santa Monday at SL Joseph Community Hospital Chris Iverson a 8-year-old recovering from surgery tugged it just to make sure In an accident almost two years ago the Vancouver boy stuck scissors in one eye In Chris Iverson confirms the beard surgery Sunday he received a new cornea donated by someone who had died Although most people would consider the holidays a poor time for a hospital stay mother Denise said the transplant was the best Christmas present in the world forherson "I am so Mrs Ivenon of 3415 NE 53rd St said have been waiting so tong" Even with a patch over one eye Chris was checking out Santa very closely as be sat on the red velvet lap Santa is Portland trucker Chuck Woolridge who drives for McCracken Motor Freight Co of Eugene The 47-year-old has awarded a contract to RW Rhine of Tacoma to demolish the theater and other buildings in the block that is bordered by Broadway and Eighth Ninth and streets Rhine wsis by tar the lowest of eight bidders The company bid 33787272 The next lowest was about 872000 The highest wu about 8231000 said City Attorney Jerry King King could not explain the difference they got the right asked Councilman Bryce Seidl King said Rhine did major demolition for Broadway going in style at last show Sunday remodeling inside Seattle's Olympic llotel Telephone Utilities is a holding company with administrative functions now scattered in Portland Ilwaco other Washington towns Alaska and elsewhere The firm services more Jhan 200000 telephones in seven states When construction is completed in mid-1983 the Clark County Branch of Seattle-First National Bank might move into street-level space The branch now is at 1103 Main SL is official yet" said Jim Austell branch manager still putting some On Sunday in will be the last film to play at the Broadway Theater in downtown Vancouver In early January it is expected a wrecking ball will transform it from city favorite Saturday afternoon escape into a (die of rubble Out of the rubble is to grow an $18 million 10- to 11 -story office where 400 to 600 people will work for Telephone Utilities Seattle-First National Bank Is considering leasing the ground floor for its Clark County Branch The Vancouver City Council Monday night The surge of outgoing mail down slightly from Christinas season last year is over Vancouver postmaster Bryce McNeely said Monday The volume of letters and packages decreased about 1 percent he said However business at United Pared Service in Portland is up about 8 percent this year a UPS spokesman said Monday That is about the same as increases the past few years he said McNeely reminded residents to pick up packages if their postal carrier has left a package slip at their residence The notice will tell them whether to go to the main post office 2700 Caples Ave or the downtown station 1211 Daniels St The main post office has a special window for package pick-up McNeely said All Vancouver post office branches are open 8:30 am to 5 pm this week They will be closed Friday Christmas Day People who are tardy in sending their tidings still have a few options The Postal Service offers 24-hour express mail and special delivery service Air mail at least should speed up those late greetings McNeely said The Postal Service' has not added extra hdiday-season employees or extended the hours or days of service of the post offices in recent years The dip in 1981 business could be due to higher stamp costs the slumping economy or other reasons McNeely said United Parcel Service will be open 8:30 ajn to 6 pm through Thursday Those are extended hours and UPS also has expanded its package handling area UPS added 300 holiday employees to its normal workforce of 900 in Portland Bert Claflin handcuffed authentic beard like candy-cane-covered fingers reaching in and leaving traces of sticky mess shampoo every night" Woolridge said His beard is dusted with white powder otherwise it would be gray Asked what he wanted for Christmas he got very erious and said like to see more people take a little more time to share with other Hard times abound this year Some of his fellow truckers have been laid off and he recognizes that many children will go without the toys they want not he said I like to share a little with numbers to the thing We've told our employees that it looks like it is a Austell said the bank might occupy as much as 20000 square feet on the main floor Telephone Utilities and its construction Ertner Ralph Schlesinger Co reportedly ve had discussions with several banks about occupying the ground floor Meanwhile a spokeswoman for the Broadway said the Kiggins Theater at 1011 Main SL will reopen Monday to show movies to the public for the first time since mid-1978 seriously hurrying down the stairs to avoid the group As Harris read each count and the accompanying verdict the 18-year-old struggled to hold back her tears Midway through the verdict reading an unidentified young girl sitting in the back burst out of the courtroom in tears said a young girl in group Claflin wu tod back into the Jail elevator His wife wu crying but the two did not touch Claflin wu accused of raping or molesting three sisters ages 13 16 and 18 and their two cousins ages 7 and 10 The two oldest girls testified Claflin had molested them off and on for six yean The 18-year-old told the Jury she became torn at age 12 The charges dealt with incidents between March and July of this year Testimony for the state included explanation by Lucy Berliner a nationally recognised expert on the sexual abuse of children She interviewed some of the victims and told the Jury it is not unusual that they never told anyone over the past six yean of what wu happening or that the 13-year-old continued the relationship The 54-year-old Amboy rancher denied all of the charges taking the stand in his own defense Witnesses for his side included the mother of the three oldest girls Claflin found guilty of sex abuse counts By CYNTHIA TANK TheColunbiaa Warned by the Judge against any outbursts Bert Ctaflin his wife friends and three of his five accusers took the news in stoic silence Tears in the eyes of nearly everyone were the only evidence of reaeton Even deputy prosecutor Jim eyes were red After about 44k bourn of deliberating four men and eight women found Claflin guilty on all 10 counts Monday nighL Superior Court Judge Robert Harris read the verdicts at 810 Claflin was convicted of two counts of rape one count of assault six counts of indecent liberties and one count of tampering with a witness dear that's the way it Claflin said to bis wife on his way back to Jail His effort to remain cheerful wu betrayed by red-rimmed eyes His attorney Steve Thayer said the case will be appealed God forgive said Alicia Pettit to two of accusers A friend of she waited in the courthouse ball with several other people for the two victims to come out of the prosecutor's office They had gone into the office next to courtroom after the verdict wu read The 18-year-old hurt her ankle though not STN CAMMUllw i by corrections officer Richard Farrell Deputy Sharon Krause watches.