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Man Presumed Deceased After Kayak Found Adrift In The Columbia

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The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office is continuing a recovery operation in the Columbia River following reports of an unoccupied boat adrift near the end of a sandbar.

Authorities say they received multiple reports at about 2:08 Thursday afternoon.

Marine Patrol deputies later found a fishing kayak in the area, with its trolling motor still running.

A search for the kayak’s owner was launched with assistance from the sheriff’s office plane, the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Police and the Hood River Police Department.

The owner has been identified as David Kalousdian of Hood River.

The Sheriff’s Office says he has not been found and is presumed deceased.

Search efforts are continuing, but authorities say the mission has shifted from a search operation to a recovery operation.

September 30 Prep Sports Roundup

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Volleyball

The Dalles def. Estacada 3-1:  The Riverhawks move to 3-0 in the Tri-Valley Conference.

 

Cross Country

Lilah Zimmerman led a group of four Columbia Bruins to finish in the top six to win the girls’ half of a four-school Trico League meet in Vancouver.  Kathryn O’Connor of CHS was second, while Stevenson’s A’Layjha Johnson was third. Seton Catholic swept the top three places to hold off Columbia in the boys’ race.  Jack Brooks was fourth and Colby Clark fifth for the Bruins.

 

Wasco County Victim Services & HAVEN Expand Partnership

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Wasco County Victim Services and HAVEN are expanding their partnership to provide more support for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.  An experienced HAVEN legal advocate will work about 25 hours a week alongside Victim Services staff in the Wasco County District Attorney’s Office.  The advocate is bilingual and bicultural, adding capacity to help survivors who may face language, cultural or other barriers when accessing services or navigating the criminal justice system.  Officials say the partnership brings together two different approaches to victim advocacy.  District Attorney’s Office advocates help victims navigate the criminal justice process, prepare for court, understand their rights and access Crime Victims’ Compensation.  HAVEN advocates work independently of the justice system, focusing on safety, individual needs, informed choice and self-determination.  Officials say having the advocates work side by side will strengthen coordination, reduce barriers and improve responses to safety concerns, particularly in high-risk domestic and sexual violence cases.

CCHC Completes Purchase Of Apartments In Cascade Locks

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A 51-year-old affordable housing complex in Cascade Locks is getting a major renovation.  Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation has completed its purchase of Columbia View Apartments, a 12-unit affordable housing community.  The nonprofit says preserving existing affordable housing is especially important in smaller communities like Cascade Locks, where replacing those homes can be difficult.  Planned improvements include a new roof, siding, windows and exterior doors, along with new decks and stairs.  Kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, plumbing, heating and cooling systems, parking and other site features will also be upgraded.  One apartment will be converted into an accessible unit, with improved accessible routes throughout the property.  CCHC expects construction to begin quickly and hopes all 12 apartments will be fully operational before the end of 2026.  The project is being funded through a combination of public grants and loans, with support from Oregon Housing and Community Services, USDA Rural Development, Enterprise Community Partners and other project partners.

Progress Reported On Orchard Fire

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Firefighters continue to make progress on the Orchard Fire, with no additional growth reported overnight.  Updated mapping now puts the fire at approximately 155 acres.  Crews patrolled the perimeter overnight, checking containment lines and addressing remaining hotspots. On Wednesday, firefighters will strengthen containment and conduct mop-up up to about 150 feet inside the fire perimeter, where terrain and conditions allow.  Most of the containment is along existing roads and mechanically constructed dozer lines.  Steep slopes, loose rock, debris and hazardous trees are limiting access in some areas.  Fire crews will focus on safely extinguishing hotspots, reinforcing containment lines, removing hazards and monitoring for changes in fire behavior.  Resources include a 20-person hand crew, seven engines, and overhead and command personnel. Fire investigators from the Oregon Department of Forestry, Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, and the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office are expected to complete their investigation today.

September 29 Prep Sports Scoreboard

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Boys Soccer

Hood River Valley 4, Canby 3

Madras 2, The Dalles 1

 

Girls Soccer

Hood River Valley 2, Sherwood 0

The Dalles 8, Madras 0

Seton Catholic 8, Columbia 0

Kalama 8, Stevenson 0

Catlin Gabel 7, Trout Lake 2

 

Volleyball

St. Helens def. Hood River Valley 25-22, 25-20, 25-20

Seton Catholic def. Columbia 3-0

Kalama def. Stevenson 3-0

South Wasco def. Horizon Christian 3-0

Overnight Bridge Closures Delayed

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Overnight closures of the Hood River–White Salmon Bridge have been canceled this week after a contractor postponed scheduled steel and coating maintenance.       The delay could extend through next week, with the overnight work potentially moving to October 12-16.   Those dates are tentative.  The Port says it’s working with the contractor to confirm the schedule and will announce new closure dates and times as soon as they’re available.  Additional maintenance requiring single-lane closures is expected after the overnight work.   Those dates and times will be announced separately.

Klickitat County Commission Approves ADU Ordinance Amendments

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Klickitat County Commissioners approved amendments to the County’s Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance, opting to keep in a six-month requirement for the property owner to live in either the main house or ADU to use the other as a short-term rental rather than removing it as the County Planning Commission proposed.  There was some concern about whether they should move forward with work continuing on the County’s Short-Term Rental Ordinance, but Commission Todd Andrews noted that even while that is pending, there is still a conditional use permit required for an STR.  The vote to approve the amendments was unanimous.

Grasshopper Fire Evacuation Zones In Wasco County Lifted

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All evacuation zones in Wasco County within the Mount Hood National Forest have now been lifted as the Grasshopper Fire reaches 98% containment.  The fire, which started July 23, burned nearly 94,000 acres.  Officials say the cause was lightning.  A closure area does remain in effect on the Mount Hood National Forest, and residents and visitors should continue to follow posted closure information.

Hood River URA To Ask Community How To Use Remaining Waterfront Funds

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The Hood River City Council, acting in its capacity as the Urban Renewal Agency, plans to move forward with asking the community how to use $1 million in remaining funds before closing out the Waterfront Urban Renewal District.  The Urban Renewal Advisory Committee picked out four options to consider, rather than sending the money back to taxing districts.  URA Board Chair Doug Stepina pointed out that those districts have benefited from what the Waterfront District has already done.  If the $1 Million was returned to districts, about half would end up out of the area in the state’s common school fund, and about $250,000 would go to the City, leaving only approximately $250,000 that would go to the districts.  The potential projects include helping the Port of Hood River move forward with the Second and Riverside Roundabout, helping Columbia Area Transit with a proposed interregional transit hub, Waterfront Park Restroom and Playground renovation, or creating public art in the Waterfront with the Art of Community.