The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., May 17, 1973, page 11

NEW IMAGE OF CAMP COLUMBIA DUE TO HARD WORKING STAFF

     Merrrill Hightower, new director of Camp Colombia arrived, with his wife Cherrin and their five children from Issaquah to begin his duties at the Camp on the first of April.
     He was formerly employed by the Department of Social and Health Services and has worked with deprived, under-privileged and delinquent children for a period of 13 years.  He began his career as a base-line staff working various shifts with Youth at Fort Worden Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Port Townsend.  In 1963 he became supervisor of one of the residential units and continued in this position until April of 1970 when he transferred to Echo Glen Children's Center in Snoqualmie pending the closure of the Fort Worden.
     His duties as unit supervisor or to train, schedule and supervise the staff working directly with children in a residential setting; direct staff meetings; train non-professional base-line staff in the dynamics of child care; conduct group meetings; as well as to counsel students on a one-on-one bases.
     He was able to continue his college education while still working by enrolling in various summer schools.  He attended the University of Washington School of Social Work completing numerous courses.  He has attended Portland State University familiarizing himself with drug usage and the accompanying problems.  He completed a course in Delinquency Prevention and Youth Corrections at Central Washington State College.
     He has been involved in training programs dealing with advanced group living, advanced staff supervision, group counseling and first aid.  He completed a course in Administrative Management prior to his arrival at Camp Colombia.
     Mr. Hightower is involved in several service organizations and has been an active member of the Official’s Association for the past ten years.
     Marv Yarnell, Assistant Director is originally from White Salmon and at present is doing graduate work through Whitworth College.  His wife Chris is attending college at Cheney and will graduate in June.
     Marv's education includes an Associate Degree from C.B.C., a B.A. Degree from E.W.S.C. in Psychology with Special Education emphasis and also several graduate course credits applicable to a M. Ed. in Guidance and Counseling.
     He has held a variety of jobs which include working and volunteering with children while attending college.  He has been a playground supervisor for two years; tutored and developed an enrichment program for a 10-year-old brain-damaged child; for a ten month.  He worked with hyperactive and emotionally disturbed children; eleven weeks teaching experience in class instruction with fifth-graders and 2 weeks with kindergarten children; coordinator of physical and musical activities at Merry Glen school which involved working with mentally retarded, brain-damaged, cerebral palsied, physically handicapped, and socially emotionally disturbed children.  He has also volunteered at Lakeland Village and Interlake School at Eastern Washington State Hospital.
     Mr. and Mrs. Maltbie, House Parent Counselors, are the camp newlyweds who are looking forward to settling and becoming part of the community.  Bob is a journeyman machinist.  He has had strong supervisory experience in his field both as a foreman and as a teacher under the Job Training program.  As a hobby he has purchased, improved, then sold numerous homes.  He is well versed in all phases of property bound management and maintenance.  Bob is an avid sports fan, in fact he walks with a limp, a souvenir from his days as a goalie with an ice hockey team.
     Bob explains, “I was never fortunate enough to have children of my own, and now I have a family of boys.  I'm having a ball, it's fine!”
     Edith Maltbie is a versatile Grandma with a multi-faceted background.  An Australian, she came to this country in 1944 as a War Bride.  She later supported her chronically ill husband and her two children as an accountant.  In 1969 when her late husband entered a rest home she returned to college.  She earned an Associate of Arts degree in Sociology, several credits in math and foreign languages, and graduated with distinction.
     Edith proudly states, “Our boys are good boys,” clearly shows how she feel toward them by always having something freshly baked when they return home from school.
     Although some progress has been made this past month.  Mr. Hightower states, “There is still much to be done.  The boys in staff, with the most welcome help from volunteers, have cleared and plowed a field which is ready to seed to alfalfa; prepared a small garden plot; hauled and burned an unbelievable amount of trash; and butchered four pigs which are now in the locker.  We have initiated a Federal Milk program which provides milk for the boys at a lower cost.  The boys have enjoyed several outings and through their active participation and crafts, some interesting candies have been made which the boys are sending home.  Two of our boys are currently taking golf lessons.”
     In the opinion of Mr. Hightower, the most pressing need at Camp Colombia involves the betterment of the conditions at the Camp.  He further feels that although his staff is wholly qualified, it is impossible for them to complete the task alone.
     Most of all, Camp Colombia needs the combined efforts of the community, both from individuals and organizations, as well as from the director, his staff, and the board of trustees.