One man died in a collision between a van and a truck and trailer on Highway 97 in Klickitat County on Monday morning. According to the Washington State Patrol, a van driven by a 42-year-old Chicago man was southbound on Highway 97 at milepost 11 just south of Goldendale just after 7:30 a.m. Monday when it crossed the centerline and struck the oncoming truck and trailer. The Chicago man, whose identity has not been released pending notification of next of kin, was declared deceased at the scene. The truck driver, 53-year-old Abel Martinez of Vancouver, was transported to Klickitat Valley Hospital in Goldendale for treatment of injuries. Cause of the accident remains under investigation. Another truck and trailer could not stop in time and drove through the debris on the roadway. The WSP said the driver of that truck was uninjured.
Merkley Town Halls On Friday
Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley will hold town halls with in-person community conversations in Hood River and Wasco Counties on Friday. The town halls will be held at the Mt.Hood Town Hall on 6575 Highway 35 in Hood River County on Friday at 11 a.m., and then Merkley moves on to the Mid-Columbia Senior Center at 1112 West 9th in The Dalles at 2 p.m. for another session. These sessions will bring the total of town halls Merkley will have done so far this year to 20. Merkley says the conversations help lay out the current interests and needs of Oregonians to advise his work.
Transportation Funding Central To Oregon Legislative Session
The Oregon Legislature gathered Monday for its 35-day short session, with transportation funding figuring to be front and center. 52nd District Representative Jeff Helfrich says his goal is to make sure maintenance and preservation of roads come first in whatever the Oregon Department of Transportation receives, adding no matter what occurs, there will be cuts. One of the focuses of the early weeks of the session will be an effort by Democrats to move a vote on a referendum to repeal the gas tax increase passed last year from November to May.
Washington Lawmakers Urge Congress For More Salmon Protection Flexibility
Lawmakers in Olympia have approved a memorial urging Congress to give states and tribes more flexibility to protect salmon runs from sea lion predation. The memorial from Spokane Valley Republican Representative Rob Chase asks Congress to modernize federal law so states and tribes can better manage sea lions and seals that prey on endangered salmon. Supporters say Washington has invested billions restoring salmon habitat, but recovery efforts are undermined when growing numbers of sea lions consume large numbers of returning fish. Republican Representative Kevin Waters of Stevenson says relocating sea lions has proven ineffective. He notes they just come back. The memorial does not change state law but formally urges Congress to update the Marine Mammal Protection Act to give states and tribes more flexibility to protect salmon runs across Washington waters.
January 30-31 Prep Sports Roundup
Boys Basketball
Hood River Valley 62, Milwaukie 48
Fort Vancouver 92, Columbia 47
Castle Rock 50, Stevenson 41
Lyle-Wishram 88, Trout Lake 40
Klickitat-Glenwood at Ione-Arlington
Horizon Christian 52, Sherman 51
Condon 45, Dufur 37
South Wasco 78, Crane 28
South Wasco 74, Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 52
Girls Basketball
Hood River Valley 43, Milwaukie 24
Sherman 52, Horizon Christian 19
Dufur 56, Condon 19
Crane 63, South Wasco 35
South Wasco 45, Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 28
Alpine Skiing
Hood River Valley took five of the top six places in the girls’ portion of a Mt. Hood League Giant Slalom at Mt. Hood Meadows. Rowan McKenna was the individual winner. Jess Aubert finished in the boys’ race for the Eagles.
Boys Wrestling
HRV’s Copeland Louis and Drew Lucas earned second place finishes at the Hood River Invitational. Columbia’s Titus DeHart grabbed a third place finish.
Boys & Girls Wrestling
Jesus Chavez, Adrian Miramontes, and Quinn Brenner grabbed fifth place finishes for The Dalles in the boys’ portion of the Bank of Eastern Oregon Invitational in Heppner, while Marie-Louise McCracken was third at 135 in the girls’ half of the tourney.
January 29 Prep Basketball Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
Estacada 81, The Dalles 72 (OT)
Girls Basketball
The Dalles 44, Estacada 32
Columbia 45, Fort Vancouver 40
Teenager Arrested In Shooting Death; Second Suspect Sought
A Hood River teenager has been taken into custody and a man is still being sought in the shooting death of a 21-year-old man in the area of 1695 Oak Street in Hood River in the early morning hours of January 17. The Hood River Police Department says the 16-year-old male was arrested on Wednesday, and booked and lodged at NORCOR on second degree murder, first degree manslaughter, and other charges in the death of Yahir Castillo-Alvarez of Hood River. Police are also looking for the public’s help in locating a second suspect, 30-year-old Noel Hernandez of Hood River, who is wanted on second degree murder and first degree manslaughter charges. Police advised the public not to approach Hernandez and to contact law enforcement with any information. Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact Hood River Police Department Detective Ben Oka at 541-387-5257, or by email at b.oka@cityofhoodriver.gov.
Strawberry Mountain Boil Water Order Lifted
The boil water order for the Strawberry Mountain pressure zone in White Salmon was lifted Thursday morning. Required water quality testing has been completed, and results confirm the water is safe to use for drinking, cooking, and food preparation. Normal water use may resume. The City of White Salmon says a malfunction in the water system on Tuesday led to service being temporarily disrupted for customers within that zone. Because the Strawberry Mountain reservoir needed to be refilled, water quality testing was required to ensure the water is safe for consumption. Other areas of White Salmon are not impacted. For a detailed list of addresses in the Strawberry Mountain pressure zone, go to whitesalmonwa.gov.
January 28 Prep Sports Roundup
Boys Basketball
Columbia 47, Seton Catholic 45
Boys Wrestling
Hillsboro 60, Hood River Valley 10
Strawberry Mountain Boil Order Continues Through Friday
The boil water order for the Strawberry Mountain pressure zone in White Salmon has been extended through Friday. The City of White Salmon says a malfunction in the water system on Tuesday led to service being temporarily disrupted for customers within that zone. Because the Strawberry Mountain reservoir needed to be refilled, required water quality testing must be completed to ensure the water is safe for consumption. As a precaution, residents in the affected area are advised to boil all water used for drinking, food preparation, and cooking through Friday. Updated test results are expected to be available by 5:00 p.m. Friday. Other areas of White Salmon are not impacted. For a detailed list of addresses in the Strawberry Mountain pressure zone, go to whitesalmonwa.gov.