The Hood River County Planning Commission continued into February its public hearing on Packer Orchards Farm Stand’s appeal of a County administrative decision on required conditions to modify the existing farm stand permit for the Farm Stand operation on land zoned exclusive farm use on Thomsen Road. At issue is the amount the business can take in from fee-based events or incidental product sales, which by state rule is limited to 25% of the farm stand’s income. Packer Orchards has appealed ten of the conditions listed in the permit. Planning Commissioners heard three hours of testimony on Wednesday evening, and while oral testimony was closed, left open the opportunity to submit written testimony for 14 days, with a 14-day rebuttal period for all parties followed by another 14 days for the appellants final rebuttal. As a result, the Planning Commission will reconvene on the matter on February 11 at 5:30 p.m. in the County Administration Building, when the panel will deliberate and make a decision.
Grant Approved For Vets Resource Center At CGCC
The Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs has approved a grant to re-establish a student led Campus Veteran Resource Center at the Columbia Gorge Community College campus in The Dalles. Wasco County officials say the primary goal for the center is to support rural veterans not only in transitioning to college, but in completing degrees and certifications and successfully entering or advancing in the workforce. The center plans to focus on three core pillars: mental health, fellowship, and stewardship to help veterans at CGCC have the support they need to thrive academically, personally, and professionally. For more information on the Campus Veteran Resource Center, call 541-506-2502.
December 10 Prep Basketball Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
Stevenson 39, Horizon Christian 23
Girls Basketball
Stevenson 28, Horizon Christian 25
Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Closure Early Friday Morning
The Hood River–White Salmon Interstate Bridge will be closed to all traffic early Friday morning from 12:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. for scheduled maintenance. During this nighttime closure, crews will finalize preventive maintenance on wire ropes, install a new expansion joint on the south end of the bridge, performing guardrail repairs, locating and verifying electrical wiring. For updates, please visit portofhoodriver.com.
MCCAC Taking LIEAP Applications
Mid-Columbia Community Action is now taking appointments for those in Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties who want to apply for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program. MCCAC Executive Director Leslie Naramore says they received word on Tuesday that funding for the program has been released, and they can resume setting up appointments. Naramore says it’s difficult at this point to say how many people they will be able to help this year. The Low Income Energy Assistance Program provides funds to help those who struggle to pay for heat during the winter. For an appointment call Mid-Columbia Community Action at 541-298-5131. If you are a senior citizen or disabled, mention that so you are prioritized within the program.
Klickitat County Chooses Takos As Interim P.A.
Klickitat County Commissioners tapped County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Alex Takos as the interim Prosecuting Attorney in the wake of the recent resignation of David Quesnel Takos told the Commission with the assistance of fellow Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Cranston, he will keep the office moving while the Commission considers more permanent moves. The Commission is taking applications for the permanent replacement until December 19. That selection will hold the office through the end of next year, with the Prosecuting Attorney position on the 2026 ballot. In other business, Commissioners approved both the 2026 County Budget and Six-Year Transportation Plan.
TD Watershed Bill Passes House, Heads To Senate
A bill to transfer ownership of 150 acres of Forest Service land within The Dalles’ municipal watershed to the City of The Dalles was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday. It now heads to the Senate for consideration. The City relies on its municipal watershed for 80% of its annual water supply, and owning the acreage will make it easier to expand the size of the Crow Creek Reservoir. Mayor Rich Mays says the transfer will strengthen the City’s ability to protect water quality and improve system management. Oregon Second District Congressman Cliff Bentz said the transfer was one of his highest priorities.
Hood River County Warns Of Scams Using Its Logos
Hood River County is warning residents about scams using County logos to attempt to get people to respond. County Administrator Allison Williams says people should be careful if they receive something that supposedly is from the County, but it’s not. She says among other precautions check the email address it came from, as it will often have a suffix other than the .gov the County uses. Williams encourages people to call the County if they receive anything that appears to be from them, but they are suspicious about it. She notes governments tend to be a target of these kind of scams because of the transparency with which they do business and the accessibility of public documents.
Klickitat County Deputy & Goldendale Business Recover Money After Scam
A Klickitat County Sheriff’s Deputy and a Goldendale business helped an 84-year-old man recover $11,000 in cash that he was being scammed out of. According to the Sheriff’s Office, last week scammers coerced the victim into sending the cash by UPS to a California address which was found to be a vacant rental house used to have victims send packages to. The man realized he had been scammed and contacted the Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Tim Neher reached out to UPS, who directed him to contact S and S Auto Value in Goldendale, where the package was shipped from. Andy Halm of S and S assisted in working with UPS to have the package sent back. It was returned to S and S and the $11,000.00 was recovered and returned. The Sheriff’s Office says the family of the victim were contacted and assisted in ensuring there was no further contact between the victim and the scammers.
Hood River City Stormwater Improvement Plan Presented
Hood River City Councilors received a presentation on a long-considered capital facilities plan for stormwater infrastructure. The study was actually commissioned in 2011 with a draft finished in 2018, but requested updates led to minor updates in 2021 and 2024, but adoption is now planned for early 2026. Stoner Bell of Bell Design Company said they have found 37 projects that are recommended, at total cost of $39 million, to be done over about 20 years. The plan also identifies 33 potential projects that would need to be done by developers in future development areas, with a total cost of $13 million. The City will receive a stormwater rate study at its January 5 meeting.