The Wasco County Clerk’s office, based on an interpretation of Oregon’s law from the Secretary of State’s office, says Mike Urness will be the only name to appear on November’s general election ballot for County Commission Position 3 in the wake of incumbent Phil Brady’s death on Tuesday. Brady was the top vote getter in the three way primary, with Urness a close second, and Dick Schaffeld not far behind in third. Under normal circumstances, both Brady and Urness would have advanced to the November election. The Secretary of State’s office advised the Wasco County Clerk’s office that under provisions in state law, when one nominated candidate dies before a non-partisan general election, only the remaining nominated candidate will appear on the November ballot. The Clerk’s office will proceed with the standard timeline to certify the primary election results. As far as filling the Commission seat for the remainder of Brady’s unexpired term through the end of 2026, that falls to the remaining commissioners. The County says they will announce appointment procedures and a timeline in the coming weeks.
May 20 Prep Sports Roundup
Track and Field
Hood River Valley’s Syl Perrin won the girls’ 3,000 meters and Diyora Khudoidodova the girls’ high jump on the first day of the Northwest Oregon Conference Championships at Putnam. Also qualifying for the state meet with second place finishes were Solomon Parson in the boys’ javelin and Francisco Solberg in the boys’ pole vault. The NWOC meet will continue on Friday.
The Dalles’ Willow Ziegenhagen won the girls’ javelin and Laura Black took first in the girls’ pole vault at the Tri-Valley Conference Championships at Molalla. Competition continues today.
Baseball
Hood River Valley 5, Centennial 0: Tyson Harjo pitched a masterful three-hit shutout, striking out ten and walking only one. Davin Snyder scored three times and drove in a run for HRV as the Eagles won for the 19th time this season.
Estacada 9, The Dalles 6: A Riverhawk comeback from a 7-0 deficit fell just short. Evan Ortega went two for four and drove in a run.
Softball
Hood River Valley 15, Centennial 5: Kenadie Lucas three for four and struck out nine in relief in the final home game of her high school career. Graceyn Hanshaw had a three for four game at the plate while driving three runs.
The Dalles 4, Estacada 3 (8 innings): Siyra Faulkner’s two-out base hit drove home the winning run. Ainslee Eisland homered and drove in three runs for the Riverhawks.
Commissioners Pay Tribute To Brady
A red rose was placed where Phil Brady normally sat during Wasco County Commission meetings in the wake of his death from a heart attack on Tuesday. The Commission meeting moved forward Wednesday morning, opening with emotional tributes from both of the other Commissioners on the panel. Commission Chair Scott Hege expressed his condolences to Brady’s family, and paid tribute to him, noting his kindness to others and acknowledging his lifelong passion for teaching and learning. Fellow Commissioner Jeff Justesen remembered Brady for working as a teacher at NORCOR’s juvenile division while he was managing that facility. Brady grew up in The Dalles, where his father ran Brady’s Market. He would graduate as ASB President from The Dalles High School, then go on to study physics at Gonzaga and pursued become a Catholic priest with the Jesuits before leaving to become a teacher. He later lived in Venezuela with his wife Mary Jo and his daughters as Catholic missionaries. Brady went on to teach science for eighteen years at The Dalles High School, The Dalles Middle School, and at NORCOR Juvenile. He served on numerous boards in The Dalles area, including as chairman of the Mid-Columbia Medical Center board.
Wasco County Asking Secretary Of State’s Office For Guidance On Election
The death of Phil Brady on the day of the primary election leaves questions about how to proceed in regards to the seat he held. Brady was running for re-election, and was the top vote-getter with 2,571 and would have advanced to the November general election with Mike Urness, who received 2,474. Dick Schaffeld was third with 2,111. County Administrative Officer Tyler Stone told the County Commission on Wednesday that they are seeking guidance from the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office on how to proceed. Stone says County Counsel will be meeting with state officials to go over how the County should proceed.
Wasco County Seeks Drought Declaration From The Governor
Wasco County has requested Oregon Governor Tina Kotek make a drought declaration for the County. County Emergency Manager Sheridan McClellan outlined for the Commission the dry conditions expected this summer coming off a drier and warmer winter than usual, and the agricultural resources that could be impacted. A state declaration opens up the County to receive various forms of financial assistance to withstand some of the impacts of drought. The Governor has already issued drought declarations for 12 Oregon counties.
Klickitat County Zone 3 Burn Ban Goes Into Effect June 1
Klickitat County will put a burn ban in effect for the western part of the county on June 1. This will be for Burn Ban Zone 3, which runs from the western boundaries of County Fire Districts 4, 12 and 15 to the western county line. It is in effect outside the corporate limits of any city or town, and the jurisdictions of the Yakama Nation and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. The ban comes on the recommendation of local fire districts. The County’s other two Burn Ban zones entered into their bans on Monday of this week.
White Salmon Schools Hire Architect For K-12 Campus Design
The White Salmon Valley School District has acquired an architect to do the design work for a K-12 campus at the location of the current secondary school campus. District Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says Design West Architects in the Tri-Cities has worked with a number of schools across Washington. He says representatives of the firm will meet with staff next week to discuss what needs to be a part of the design. Polkinghorn says it will probably be two years before any actual construction for the campus takes place. Voters approved a bond measure for the K-12 campus in February to replace the aging Whitson Elementary School.
May 19 Prep Sports Roundup
Golf
Dufur’s Tygh Timinsky finished sixth at the Oregon Class 4A Girls Golf Tournament at Eagle Crest Resort. Timinsky shot an 87 on Tuesday as scores went up across the board. She shot an 81 on Monday. The Rangers finished tenth in the team standings.
Hood River Valley’s Aksel Betz finished 18th at the Oregon Class 5A Boys Golf Tournament at Tokatee Golf Club in Blue River. Betz shot an 84 in the second round after firing a 75 in the firt round.
The Dalles’ Andrew Westin finished in a tie for 44th after shooting a 92 on the last day of the Oregon Class 4A Boys Golf Tournament at Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell.
Oregon High School Lacrosse Association Second Round
Grant 12, Hood River Valley 9
Baseball
Hood River Valley 7, Hillsboro 1: Landon Pratt and Bodie Stuben combined to give up only five hits and strike out nine as the Eagles completed a two-game sweep of the Spartans. Maverick Hockett and Nick Tuttle had two hits apiece to lead the HRV offense.
Softball
Hood River Valley 8, Hillsboro 7 (9 innings): Presslie Josephson’s two-out base hit scored Isa Rivera with the game winning run, capping off a three-run bottom of the ninth as the Eagles snapped a seven-game losing streak. Kenadie Lucas and Graceyn Hanshaw both had four for five days at the plate.
May 19 Primary Election Returns
Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District Bond Measure for new pool:
Yes 4,229 54.6%
No 3,511 45.4%
Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District Operating Levy
Yes 4,466 57.6%
No 3,290 42.4%
Wasco County Commission Pos. 1
Lisa Gambee 2,883 41.3%
John Grant 2,331 33.4%
Robb Van Cleave 873 12.5%
Nichole Biechler 858 12.3%
Wasco County Commission Pos. 3
Phil Brady 2,571 35.8%
Mike Urness 2,474 35.0%
Dick Schaffeld 2,111 29.4%
Oregon House Dist. 52 Democrat
Hank Sanders 3,502 45.8%
David Osborn 2,638 34.5%
Nick Walden Poublon 808 10.6%
Bernard Seeger 639 8.4%
Oregon House Dist. 52 Republican
Scott Hege 4,185 72.4%
Darcy LaPier 951 16.6%
Robert Fleming 591 10.2%
Measure 120 Fuel Tax Referendum
No 779,968 83.3%
Yes 155,886 16.7%
Governor Republican
Christine Drazan 142,646 41.9%
Ed Diehl 111,529 32.8%
Chris Dudley 16,239 4.8%
Governor Democrat
Tina Kotek 84.1% 293,801
U.S. Senator Republican
David Brock Smith 87,863 29.8%
JoRae Perkins 79,784 27.1%
Brent Barker 68,283 23.2%
U.S. Senator Democrat
Jeff Merkley 344,404 93.3%
U.S. House Dist. 2 Democrat
Chris Beck 15,251 34.6%
Mary Doyle 8,586 19.4%
Rebecca Mueller 7,987 18.1%
Dawn Rasmussen 6,586 14.9%
Patty Snow 3,999 9.1%
U.S. House Dist. 2 Republican
Cliff Bentz 75,496 80%
South Sherman Fire District Five-Year Levy Renewal
Yes 130
No 40
Bail Set At $2M For Stevenson Man Charged In Murder Of Estranged Wife
A Stevenson man arrested for the murder of his estranged wife on Friday made his first appearance in Skamania County Superior Court on Monday. Levi Delena was taken into custody Friday evening, hours after the body of Candice Malave Delena was discovered at the White Cap Apartments in Stevenson. Levi Delena was booked on Murder in the Second Degree. Skamania County Superior Court Judge Randall Krog set his bail at $2 million, with arraignment scheduled for later this week. Law enforcement and emergency medical personnel on Friday found Candice Delena deceased with significant trauma injuries, and her children were missing and unaccounted for. Later that evening, deputies located the adult male person of interest at an apartment complex in Stevenson. The individual was detained and arrested without incident, and the missing children were located safe inside the residence and placed in protective custody.