The Hood River-White Salmon Bridge project is awaiting word from the Federal Highway Administration on whether it will receive a $532 million Bridge Improvement Program grant during the current funding cycle. The Bridge Authority should learn by September whether they will get the award that would allow construction to begin on the $1.12 billion project. Bridge Authority board co-chair Grant Polson says behind the scenes work continues to be ready for when full funding is achieved, including testing the locations in the Columbia River where the bridge foundations will be. Sixty-percent design work should be ready this summer, and the goal remains for actual construction to begin in the fall of 2027, assuming the federal funding coming through.
Cherry Festival Vendor Market Moves To Future Federal Street Plaza
This year’s vendor market for the Northwest Cherry Festival on Saturday is located where the future Federal Street Plaza will be constructed. The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson says the former Tony’s Town and Country lot will also have vendors. Farquharson also says they have about half the usual number of vendors due to space issues and the market operation being shortened to just Saturday, but all the spaces they have are sold. The Community Fair will be on Fourth Street between Federal and Washington, and a Children’s Activity Fair will be located in the parking lot between The Dalles Civic Auditorium and the Medical Arts Building.
HR County Commission Discusses Opening To Forest Policy Document
Hood River County Commissioners started what figures to be a number of discussions surrounding a revised forest management plan policy with a discussion on what should be in the opening paragraph. Commissioner Arthur Babitz questioned putting the priority of revenue generation in the first paragraph without acknowledging other goals, avoiding a priority order. But Commission Chair Jennifer Euwer noted it is the Commission’s job in putting together the policy in a manner that is clear about what the County will seek to do. County Administrator Allison Williams pointed out it helps staff to provide clarity. The issue was tabled to a future meeting as Commissioners consider ideas for the opening paragraph of the policy. In other business, the Commission decided to provide a letter of support for the Mt. Hood National Forest’s planned acquisition of 1,900 acres on the West Fork of the Hood River.
HR Schools Budget Committee Meets April 28
The Hood River County School District is getting ready for its budget committee to meet on Tuesday. Superintendent Bill Newton has been giving updates to the school board over the past few months, with continual adjustments as the project has progressed. Newton said at this point, the district does not anticipate having to issue reductions in force notices, as enrollment continues to trend downward. The first budget committee meeting will be next Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. at Hood River Valley High School, with a second scheduled for May 5.
April 20 Prep Sports Roundup
Boys Golf
Hood River Valley finished fourth in the latest Northwest Oregon Conference Tournament at Langdon Farms. Aksel Betz was the top finisher for HRV, shooting a 13-over-par 84 to finish in eighth.
Girls Golf
Dufur’s Tygh Timinsky won medalist honors at the Seaside Invitational at Astoria Country Club. Timinsky had an eagle and two birdies in the final five holes to shoot a five-over-par 78 to win by six shots. Elliott Winwood of The Dalles finished 11th, while Hood River Valley finished third in the team standings.
Boys Lacrosse
Hood River Valley 14, Glencoe 13 (OT)
Port of HR Commercial Dock Damaged
The Port of Hood River’s commercial dock was damaged when a cruise ship tried to dock there late last week. Port Executive Director Kevin Greenwood explains a Lindblad tour boat came in, did not have its bow thrusters, and crushed the west side of the dock. It is currently unusable. How long it will take to repair the commercial dock is unknown. Greenwood says they are getting cost estimates for that work, and the Port will be working with the various insurance companies involved. Greenwood notes they don’t have a lot of bookings for that dock, and hasn’t been a big revenue generator, so closing it won’t cause the Port many problems. He adds Lindblad normally uses a smaller craft to take passengers to shore.
Cherry Fest Parade Entries At Capacity
The revamped Northwest Cherry Festival will be taking place this weekend in The Dalles. With First Street closed for renovation, Festival attractions will be spread out from Lewis & Clark Festival Park to Fourth Street. The park will host the Rainier Amusements Carnival starting on Friday at 4 p.m. Most of the events will take place on Saturday, with the annual parade at 10 a.m. beginning at 6th and Webber and taking the usual route through downtown. The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson notes they are no longer taking parade entries, as it is full. There are 100 entrants for the parade. A schedule of events is available at northwestcherryfestival.com.
April 17-18 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Hood River Valley 5, Putnam 2: Hood River Valley scored four in the first inning to stay unbeaten in the Northwest Oregon Conference. Landon Pratt struck out 11 over six innings, and Tyson Harjo retired all three batters he faced in the seventh inning to earn the save.
The Dalles splits with Mazama, winning game one 5-4 but losing game two 10-9: Gunner Bustos drove in three runs for the Riverhawks in the opener, but the Vikings scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the nightcap before scoring two in the tenth to win it.
Sherman sweeps Pine Eagle 14-4 and 11-0: Creed Weedman went four for five with three runs batted in in the opener, and Drake Dark pitched a four-hitter and struck out ten in the nightcap.
Softball
Putnam 6, Hood River Valley 2: Putnam’s four run fourth inning was the difference in the game. Honey Wampler-Bryan hit a home run for HRV.
The Dalles 7, Sweet Home 3: The Riverhawks win on Friday as Morgan Donivan homered and drove in three runs.
The Dalles defeated Junction City 10-0 and Marshfield 15-0: The Riverhawks scored two more non-league wins on Saturday as Donivan again homered and drove in four runs in the first game, and Madalynn Sagapolutele had a home run in the nightcap.
LaCenter 7, Stevenson 5: The Bulldogs fell behind 6-0 after two innings and could not quite come all the way back. Abi Swanson drove in a pair of runs for Stevenson.
Columbia defeats Nooksack Valley 2-1, and loses to College Place 15-5: Julia Mullinix and Danica Herman had run-scoring hits in the bottom of the sixth inning in the game one win, but College Place scored ten runs in the fourth inning to blow open game two.
Boys Soccer
Columbia 6, Winlock 0
LaCenter 8, Stevenson 0
Track & Field
The Dalles’ Willow Ziegenhagen won both the girls’ javelin and high jump at the Willamette Falls Invitational in Oregon City. The Riverhawks’ Derek Goulart was third in the boys’ high jump.
Stevenson was the boys’ winner and host Trout Lake the girls’ winner at the Jeff Agar Memorial Invitational. Trout Lake’s Jayden Kusky, Stevenson’s Johnathan Thornburg, and South Wasco’s Jason Hull won two events each in the boys’ competition. Cora Sharp, Aurora Zoller, and Melody Stock all won a pair of events for the Trout Lake girls.
Sherman’s Eli Pickard won the boys’ 100 meters and Rena Christiansen the boy’s shot put at the Cove Invitational.
Lyle-Wishram’s Ezekiel Marble was second in the boys’ 110 meter hurdles and third in the 300 meter hurdles at the River’s Edge Invitational in Umatilla.
Boys Tennis
Hood River Valley was second at the Caldera Invitational, winning three matches before falling to the hosts in the final.
The Dalles 4, Pendleton 0
Girls Lacrosse
Hood River Valley 15, Cleveland 2
Girls Flag Football
Barlow 45, The Dalles 0
West 1st In The Dalles To Reopen Between Union & Terminal Way
West 1st Street in The Dalles will reopen to all traffic between Union Street and Terminal Way at approximately 6 p.m. Friday evening. This route will serve as a direct connection between Downtown The Dalles and the Port Area. Access to the Port Area from the west side of The Dalles will continue via West 6th Street and River Road. Starting on Monday morning, Webber Street will be closed to through traffic in both directions as Crestline Construction continues work on the Westside Interceptor Upgrades – Phase 2 Project. Webber Street is expected to remain closed well into July. Businesses along West 1st Street between Terminal Way and Webber Street will continue to be accessed from Bargeway Road.
April 16 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Hood River Valley 10, Parkrose 0: Trevor Jacobs did not give up a hit in the game that was shortened to five innings, striking out 11. The Eagles stole seven bases on the way to the victory that gave them the sweep of the two-game series.
Columbia 10, King’s Way Christian 3: Garrick Sauter and Greg Borton drove in two runs each as CHS gained a split in the Trico League series.
LaCenter sweeps Stevenson 10-2 and 11-1
Softball
The Dalles 7, Stayton 3: Madalynn Sagapolutele went three for four with a homer, a double, and two runs batted in, while Morgan Donivan also had three hits and two RBI.
King’s Way Christian 6, Columbia 4: CHS couldn’t quite come back from a six-run deficit as the two teams split their Trico League series.
Stevenson 5, LaCenter 0: Jewel Waymire threw a one-hitter to lead the Bulldogs to the win. Chloe White drove in two runs, and Evelyn McIlwain went three for three at theplate.
Track & Field
Hood River Valley’s girls defeated Parkrose and Canby in a Northwest Oregon Conference meet. Diyora Khudoidodova won both the javelin and high jump for HRV. The Eagle boys were second to Canby.
Boys Tennis
Hood River Valley 5, Parkrose 3
Boys Volleyball
Reynolds def. Hood River Valley 25-14, 26-24, 25-14
Westside Christian def. The Dalles 25-9, 25-17, 25-15
Boys Lacrosse
Hood River Valley 7, Grant 6