Wasco County has approved a short-term $100,000 loan to the White River Health District to help them through an anticipated shortfall this autumn while waiting for property tax levy revenues to arrive in November. District Board Chair David Farris says they have seen patient revenue at the Deschutes Rim Health Clinic in Maupin go up, and are currently trying to implement a marketing plan and recruit a dentist, but they don’t have a lot of operating funds to spare. County Commissioner Phil Brady pointed out that the district sought out grants from other sources, and did just get an increase in their levy from voters. Commissioners approved the loan request unanimously. In other business, the Commission approved a burn ban that will mirror a similar action planned by the Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue District. It will go into effect on Friday morning at 12:01. Commission Chair Scott Hege says this is the earliest he can recall a burn ban going into effect.
Klickitat County Schedules Zone 1 & 2 Burn Bans To Start May 18
Klickitat County Commissioners signed off on establishing a burn ban on May 18 in the County’s Burn Ban Zones 1 and 2. Zone 1 extends east of the Klickitat County Fire District #7 eastern boundary, while Zone 2 is from the Fire District 7 eastern boundary west to the western boundaries of Klickitat County Fire Districts #4, 12 and 15, then north on the Klickitat River to the north county line, to include but not limited to Klickitat County Fire Districts #4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 14 and 15. The ban will be in effect on lands outside the jurisdiction of the Yakama Indian Nation; and the jurisdiction of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. It prohibits the issuance of burning permits except for authorized agricultural burning. Residential barbecues will be allowed. No date has been set at this time to begin a burn ban in zone 3 on the western end of the County.
Construction On Federal Street Plaza Starts Monday
Construction on the Federal Street Plaza in downtown The Dalles will begin on Monday. The project is located on Federal Street between 1ˢᵗ and 2ⁿᵈ Streets and is expected to be completed by the end of October. Work that may require lane closures or temporary road closures is anticipated to occur from mid-June through the end of July. During this time, expect periodic traffic impacts in and around Federal Street between 1ˢᵗ and the alley south of 2ⁿᵈ Street. The contractor will provide advance notice of traffic impacts in the form of a press release. Access to nearby businesses will be maintained throughout construction. Public parking in the 1ˢᵗ Street Public Lot between Washington Street and Federal Street will remain open, with access from Washington Street. The City is issuing a reminder that on-street parking in the downtown core is reserved for customer use. Business owners, employees, and tenants are encouraged to use public parking lots. Updates on traffic conditions and project progress will continue to be shared on the City’s social media and website at thedalles.org.
HR History Museum To Open Quinceaneara Exhibition On Saturday
The History Museum of Hood River County will open its exhibition on the tradition of the Quinceaneara this Saturday. Museum Executive Director Lisa Commander says the Quinceanera marks a young woman’s 15th birthday in many Latino cultures. Commander says the exhibit will focus on the elaborate dresses the young women wear. There will be an opening reception for the Quinceaneara exhibition on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Museum in Port Marina Park. It will be on display through September 25. The museum is open Mondays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
TDHS Student Honored In Media Contest
A student at The Dalles High School has earned a top prize in a media contest designed to increase awareness about workplace safety and health for young workers. The Oregon Young Employee Safety (O[yes]) Coalition, called on participants to create an ad – through a compelling graphic design or video – that captures the attention of teen workers and convinces them to take the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division’s heat-illness prevention online course. Zachary Wilde of The Dalles High School finished second in the graphic design category. The top three entries in each of the two media categories took home a cash prize, and the best of the submissions will be used in the coalition’s ads in its ongoing efforts to improve on-the-job safety and health protections for teens. Check out the contest submissions at youngemployeesafety.org.
May 5 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Hood River Valley 10, LaSalle 0: Bodie Stuben drove in four runs, including a bases loaded double, and struck out five in five innings of shutout ball as the Eagles moved to 7-1 in the Northwest Oregon Conference. Kingston McAdam hit a two-run homer for HRV.
Columbia 16, Fort Vancouver 3: CHS scored 13 runs in the third inning to pull away for the win. Leland Beyer and Ryder Graves drove in three runs apiece for the Bruins.
Castle Rock 24, Stevenson 0
Softball
LaSalle 9, Hood River Valley 4: The Falcons scored two in the fourth inning and four in the fifth to blow open a close game and secure a series sweep. Taylor Duckwall had two hits and a run batted in for the Eagles.
Columbia 19, Fort Vancouver 2: Julia Mullinix went four for four and drove in five runs as the Bruins banged out 20 hits on the way to victory.
Stevenson 10, Castle Rock 7: Cayden Hulsey-Bible had three hits and three runs batted in, while Sophia Nordgaard also had a trio of hits and drove in a pair as the Bulldogs held off a late Rocket rally for the win.
Boys Soccer
King’s Way Christian 1, Columbia 0: The loss locks the Bruins into second place in the Trico League, behind Fort Vancouver
Fort Vancouver 10, Stevenson 0
Boys Tennis
Hood River Valley 3, Milwaukie 1
Girls Tennis
Hood River Valley 8, Milwaukie 0
The Dalles 6, Estacada 2
Boys Lacrosse
Grant 9, Hood River Valley 8 (OT)
Boys Volleyball
Hood River Valley def. Barlow 25-19, 25-23, 25-15
Molalla def. The Dalles 3-0
May 4 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Estacada 2, The Dalles 1: Duke Durand’s solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted the Rangers to the win. The Riverhawks managed only one hit in the game, a first inning double by Evan Ortega, who would score The Dalles’ only run.
Evergreen 11, Columbia 0
Softball
The Dalles 9, Estacada 6: Cadence Young drove in five runs on three hits, including a double, as the Riverhawks stayed unbeaten in the Tri-Valley Conference by holding off a big Ranger rally in the seventh inning. Estacada had scored five runs in the top of the seventh and had the bases loaded with one out, but the Riverhawks turned a double play to end the game. Hailey Johnston and Morgan Donivan homered for The Dalles.
Boys Golf
Hood River Valley finished second in the final Northwest Oregon Conference tournament of the season at Indian Creek, falling two shots short of Canby. Aksel Betz carded the best round of the day for the Eagles, shooting a five-over-par 77 to finish in second individually. The Eagles move on to next week’s regional tournament in Prineville
Girls Golf
Hood River Valley was fourth in the final Northwest Oregon Conference tournament of the season. Kailee Klindt was the top Eagle individual in eighth. HRV will play in the regional tournament next week in Prineville.
Girls Lacrosse
Grant 17, Hood River Valley 4
Irrigation Districts Dealing With Water Situation
While this year’s snowpack in the mountains was bad, there is a reality that local irrigation districts have dealt with low water supplies in years past. Steve Pappas of East Fork Irrigation District points out that in 2021 and 2023, most of the snowpack had melted due to a heat dome, and that has not happened at this point of this year. Pappas says they aren’t asking for restrictions in the East Fork District at this point, and they have done a lot of piping in the lower basin in recent years that has significantly reduced spillage rates. Cindy Thieman of the Hood River Watershed Group notes that each irrigation district will have a different water source, so what they have to do will vary. Pappas noted East Fork has more piping projects planned in the coming years.
First Five Feet Important To Protect Homes From Wildfire
When it comes to protecting your home from wildfire, the first five feet is crucial. The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Nicholas Tenorio says it can be the difference between surviving a wildfire or suffering devastating damage. He encourages people to clean out that first five feet around the area, adding most home damage in wildfires come from embers that get blown in by the wind. Tenorio points out covering vents with 1/8″ metal wire mesh can prevent embers from entering the home. Landscaping options like gravel or pavers instead of bark mulch can reduce danger within the first five feet of the house. This is Wildfire Awareness Month, and the Oregon State Fire Marshal is encouraging Oregonians to complete one defensible space or home hardening project this week.
May 1-2 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
LaSalle 5, Hood River Valley 2: A three-run sixth inning lifted the Falcons to the win, breaking HRV’s ten-game winning streak and giving the Eagles their first loss in Northwest Oregon Conference play. Trevor Jacobs homered for the Eagles.
Sherman sweeps Pilot Rock 9-7 and 24-19: Levi Alsup drove in five runs and Creed Weedman four as the Huskies won a wild second game to sweep the doubleheader.
Softball
LaSalle 14, Hood River Valley 1
Track and Field
Tyson Long won the 1500 meters and was second in the 800, while Derek Goulart won the high jump to lead The Dalles to a second place finish in the boys’ portion of the Centennial Invitational. Abigail Pope was second in the 1500 and Rozlyn Elliott second in the high jump to be the top finishers for the Riverhawk girls.
Dufur won the girls’ title at the Redside Invitational in Maupin. Jacey Calloway won a pair of events for the Rangers, while Sherman’s Chloe Simpson was also a double winner. Lyle-Wishram’s Ezekiel Marble won three events, in the boys competition, while Dufur’s Zeb Stelzer and Trout Lake’s Jayden Kusky won two apiece.
Columbia’s four by 400 meter relay team, finished first, Samantha Evans won the high jump, and Sara Miller had two seconds and a third to help the CHS girls to a third place finish at the Panther Twilight at Washougal
Boys Lacrosse
Hood River Valley 13, Lincoln 5
Girls Lacrosse
Hood River Valley 17, Central Catholic 5
Girls Tennis
Hood River Valley 6, Wilsonville 2
Girls Flag Football
Bend 19, The Dalles 0
Reynolds 25, The Dalles 12