On the trail with Pocahontas Theater group readies play ‘true to history’ — See Page A3 FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013 • THE HILLSBORO LEADER IN NEWS • WWW.HILLSBOROTRIBUNE.COM • VOL. 02, NO. 16 • FREE Murder, suicide shatters weekend calm ■ Investigators By JIM REDDEN Sgt. Bob Ray, deputies responded The Hillsboro Tribune believe Kenneth “We tried to talk at least one to a Sunday, May 26, call that Ken- of them into leaving the neth Van Patten, 61, and Melinda Van Patten killed A husband and wife died in Van Patten, 56, were arguing over his wife and an apparent murder-suicide house, but they refused.” getting a divorce. wounded a Monday that also left a male — Sgt. Bob Ray, Washington County Ray said Melinda was appar- roommate wounded. Sheriff’s Offi ce ently involved with the roommate, roommate The Washington County Sher- Glen Hamilton, 56, who was not before killing iff’s Offi ce (WCSO) believes Ken- present at the time of the visit. neth Van Patten, 61, killed his Glen Hamilton, 56, before turning Ray explained that WCSO depu- himself on wife, Melinda Van Patten, 56, in the gun on himself. Hamilton, who ties could not arrest either of the COURTESY PHOTO: KOIN-TV their home outside Hillsboro at was living in the house, fl ed to a Van Pattens during the Sunday Memorial Day Investigators from the Washington County Sheriff’s Offi ce gather at 5355 S.W. River Road in unincor- neighbor’s home with a non-life- visit because no crime had been porated Washington County. threatening gunshot wound. 5355 S.W. River Road south of Hillsboro after a murder-suicide over See MURDER / Page A12 Kenneth also allegedly shot According to WCSO spokesman the holiday weekend. ‘A LOT OF SUPPORT TO LIFT THE BAN’ State OKs ■ Local Boy Scouts say historic vote to admit gay youth is a non-issue new scenic bikeway Route starts in Hillsboro, winds through Forest Grove, ends on Banks-Vernonia Trail By JILL REHKOPF SMITH The Hillsboro Tribune The Oregon State Parks & Recreation Commission unanimously approved the Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway at its meeting in May. The 50-mile route begins in Rood Bridge Park in Hillsboro and winds west and north through Forest Grove, up to the 20-mile Banks-Vernonia Trail. There won’t be any offi cial kickoff event, but the Washington County Visitors Association is paying for a total of 75 signs to mark the route, including 14 that will dot Forest Grove alone. The WCVA is having people within the state prison system make the signs, said Ex- ecutive Director Carolyn McCormick, who ex- pects them to be ready by July, if not earlier. Meanwhile, Oregon State Parks and the Or- egon Tourism Commission — a semi-indepen- dent agency created by the Legislature in 2003 and doing business as “Travel Oregon” — is already promoting the trail nationally and in- ternationally. Travel Oregon has a detailed, turn-by-turn map on its rideoregonride.com website, along with another map that offers icons for local attractions, restaurants, lodg- ing and more. Eagle Scout Christian Geddes bowls with his brother, Chase, at Park Lanes Family Entertainment Center. Geddes said he Business owners who would like their estab- believes removing the ban on gay Boy Scouts was the right thing to do. Even with the new policy, however, Christian, who lishment to show up on that map can contact is 18, could be excluded from being a troop leader if he were gay. Bryant Marban at 971-717-6188 or at Bryant@ traveloregon.com. or newly-minted enough.” man, emphasized that Boy Scout Eagle Scout Chris- Story by Nancy Townsley programs “are designed to be tian Geddes, last Photos by Chase Allgood ‘It’s a good program’ youth-led,” lessening the signifi - week’s historic vote Likewise, Cornelius Mayor Jef cance of the watershed vote even to admit gay Boy Dalin, whose Troop 213 is spon- more. Scouts wasn’t a sored by the Forest Grove Noon His sons Kody, 16, a Glencoe cause for concern into the system for the first time. Rotary Club, thought High School student, F— or celebration. Because the new policy, which the BSA’s decision was and Robyn, 13, who The Century High senior felt will go into effect next year, ap- beside the point. “I think it’s attends Evergreen that lifting the ban was late in plies only to youth age 7 to 17, it “I’m OK with it, Middle School in coming and didn’t go far enough. means that now that he’s an adult, sure,” he said last absurd that a Hillsboro, are both An overwhelming majority of he could be excluded if he were week. “I’m a huge sup- leader could be members of Troop those in his Scouting group, gay. porter of Scouting, and 213. Troop 855, he said, “either don’t “I think it’s absurd that a leader I don’t think it matters disqualifi ed Last week’s vote care or (were) in favor of the reso- could be disqualified because of if a boy matures and because of his “will have no effect lution.” his sexual orientation,” said realizes he’s gay. sexual on our troop at all,” Geddes earned a coveted Eagle Christian, an assistant scoutmas- “The bottom line is, Dalin said, pointing Scout rank in April, the same ter for Troop 855. “Boy Scouts is it’s a good program. It orientation.” out that Rotary in- month he turned 18. That, in part, becoming progressive a lot slow- builds the youth lead- — Hillsboro Eagle Scout cluded a non-dis- is why he has mixed feelings er than the rest of our culture. We ership of the future.” Christian Geddes crimination clause about the May 23 vote, in which 61 can learn so much from people Dalin, who has held in its sponsorship percent of the 1,460 delegates to with different backgrounds and leadership positions documents. COURTESY PHOTO: WASHINGTON COUNTY VISITORS ASSOCIATION Boy Scouts of America’s annual different perspectives. within the regional Cascade Pa- Christian Geddes’ troop, which Signs for the newly approved Tualatin Valley convention in Grapevine, Texas, “This is a very well-intentioned cifi c Council of the BSA, including Scenic Bikeway will lead cyclists through forests voted to allow openly gay Scouts proposal, but it doesn’t go far a stint as Tuality District chair- and fi elds, along rolling, cloud-draped countryside See SCOUTS / Page A2 from Hillsboro to Vernonia. A time of solemn remembrance An honor guard comprised of members of the in the winter of 1944 during service honoring the country’s Veterans of Veterans relive the infamous Battle of the war veterans. The event was Foreign Wars Bulge, when German troops held at the Veterans Gateway at Post No. 2666 in memories, honor made a last-ditch effort to the Washington County Fair Hillsboro fi res drive the Allies back. Complex. volleys in a the fallen “There was three feet of snow The service, sponsored by 21-gun salute to By DOUG BURKHARDT on the ground,” Reed recalled. Washington County, the Amer- those who The Hillsboro Tribune “Every man who suffered that ican Legion and the Veterans perished while in blasted cold deserves a medal.” of Foreign Wars, drew about service in the Ken Reed, who served in Reed was one of fi ve World 150 citizens, dignitaries and nation’s military. the Army’s 99th Infantry Di- War II veterans who shared veterans who turned out to pay HILLSBORO TRIBUNE vision during World War II, some of their wartime experi- PHOTO: remembers being in Belgium ences during a Memorial Day See MEMORIAL / Page A12 DOUG BURKHARDT A&E A3 Commentary A6 Obits A11 “Pamplin Media Group’s pledge is to deliver balanced ......................................... ........................... ..................................... news that refl ects the stories of our communities. INSIDE Calendar ................................. A4 Education................................ A7 Home&Garden ...................... A14 Thank you for reading our newspapers.” Business ................................. A5 Classifi eds .........................A8-10 Sports ........................A16-15, 13 — DR. ROBERT B. PAMPLIN JR. OWNER & NEIGHBOR A2 NEWS The Hillsboro Tribune Friday, May 31, 2013 ® HILLSBORO TRIBUNE PHOTO: CHASE ALLGOOD Christian Geddes (left) and his younger brother Chase chat between frames last Friday at Park Lanes Family Entertainment Center. Both work at the bowling alley, and both are members of Boy Scout Troop 855. Scouts: ® Some want to XFINITY already delivers Internet speeds faster than Frontier FiOS. And now, XFINITY has doubled the speeds on two of its most popular Internet plans. Plus, XFINITY offers the fastest in-home Wi-FiFi with the most coverage in your home. So don’t fall for Frontier FiOSFiOS. lift ban on gay adults FEATURE XFINITY FRONTIER FiOS ■ National Christian Foundation From page A1 of Tampa, Fla., announced The fastest Internet YES NO Count the Scouts they planned to meet in Louis- is sponsored by Trinity Lu- There are 80 Boy Scout ville, Ky., next month to “dis- theran Church in Hillsboro, troops, including Cub cuss the creation of a new The fastest in-home Wi-Fi with the most YES NO has never made heterosexual- Scouts, in western Wash- character development orga- coverage in your home ity a standard for member- ington County’s Tuality nization for boys.” ship. District, part of the Cas- Todd Smith, Scoutmaster of cade Pacifi c Council. The More Internet protection included at no additional “Individual troops, ours in- Troop 516, which is sponsored cost with Norton® Security Suite, IDENTITY YES NO cluded, had already basically district includes 1,252 by the Evergreen Ward of the GUARD® and Comcast Secure Backup & Share repealed the ban by ignoring Scouts and 775 adult volun- LDS Church, said he was “not 422140.040413 the [former] national policy,” teers.