A person was taken from the Fred Meyer store on West 6th in The Dalles to a medical facility with injuries suffered from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Monday evening. According to The Dalles Police Department, City officers, Wasco County Sheriff’s Deputies, and Oregon State Police troopers responded to an emergency call of a gunshot victim at the location, along with Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue personnel. The Dalles Police Department detectives determined the gunshot was self inflicted. The victim was transported by medical professionals in serious condition. The investigation into the incident is on-going.
Hege Runs For House District 52 Seat
Long-time Wasco County Commissioner and former Port of The Dalles Executive Director Scott Hege announced he will run for the Oregon House in District 52. Hege will be looking for the Republican nomination to succeed Jeff Helfrich, who is running for the State Senate District 26 position. In his announcement that he will run for the House, Hege said he had planned to head into retirement, but over the past year has felt that Oregon needs experienced, practical leadership, with a focus on solutions. In running for the position, he says he will focus on lowering the cost of living, strengthening public safety, support small business and agriculture, improving transportation infrastructure, and improving schools. Two others are seeking the Republican nomination heading into Tuesday’s filing deadline: Robert Fleming of Gresham and Darcy Lapier of Sandy. There are four who have filed for Democratic Party nomination. House District 52 includes The Dalles, Hood River, Mt. Hood, Corbett, and portions of Sandy and east Multnomah County.
Ramirez Selected To Become HRVHS Principal
The Hood River County School District has named Jessica Ramirez to take over as Hood River Valley High School principal effective on July 1. Ramirez, who lived in Hood River as a child and has family members who previously worked at the high school, currently serves as an assistant principal at Reynolds High School and previously held principal and leadership roles in the Gresham-Barlow School District. Superintendent Bill Newton says during the interview process, Ramirez demonstrated a strong alignment with the school district’s strategic goals and a commitment to fostering an equitable, student-centered culture. A statement from the district said Ramirez plans to meet with staff, students, and families to learn more about the local culture when she begins her tenure. Ramirez succeeds Jim Donnelly, who has been the interim principal this year and will return to his role as assistant principal at Hood River Valley High School in the upcoming school year.
Bentz Introduces Bill To Prevent Applying ESA Provisions To Flood Insurance
Oregon Second District Congressman Cliff Bentz is introducing legislation to stop application of Endangered Species Act provisions to the National Flood Insurance program. The Republican’s legislation amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 so that the insurance program remains focused on protecting property and human life from flood risk. The bill clarifies that Endangered Species Act consultation requirements do not apply to flood insurance. It directs the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service to withdraw existing biological opinions which misdirect the purpose of the program. The bill also states that floodplain management criteria established under the national insurance program should focus on protecting property and human health. Bentz says he believes using a flood insurance program to trigger the Endangered Species Act effectively allows the federal government to dictate local zoning and this is totally contrary to the constitutional reservation of such decisions to state and local governments.
Parkdale Man Arrested After Explosions Heard In Parkdale
A Parkdale man has been arrested following an investigation into explosions heard last week in the Miller Road area of Parkdale. The Sheriff’s Office says 35-year-old Westun Harvey was arrested and lodged at the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility in The Dalles on multiple charges related to the possession and manufacture of destructive devices. The Sheriff’s Office reports that on March 1 it received multiple reports from Parkdale residents near Miller Road of a loud explosion. Authorities say a search warrant was served Thursday at a home on the 5900 block of Miller Road by members of the Northern Oregon Regional Tactical Response Team, Oregon State Police Explosives Unit, and detectives from the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office and the Major Crimes Task Force, leading to Harvey’s arrest. The Sheriff’s Office adds Harvey has been on supervised probation by Hood River County Sheriff’s Parole and Probation since February 2025 for previous charges related to the manufacture of destructive devices.
Port of TD To Get Report On Marina Condition
The Port of The Dalles is planning to have a report done on the condition of The Dalles Marina and what they need to consider for the future. It’s the Facility Condition Assessment Report. Port Executive Director Andrea Klaas says in the aftermath of two recent fires and with rebuild decisions to be made, a contractor suggested they go out for the examination. It will include the structural integrity and predicted lifespans to help guide investments in improvements. All of the infrastructure will be looked at including the docks and pilings. She notes an electrical upgrade project was done a couple of years ago. Divers will go into the water to do some of the inspections, but once that starts, the Port should have the report in 30 to 60 days.
March 6-7 Prep Sports Roundup
Oregon Interscholastic Ski Racing Association Championships
Hood River Valley won the girls’ team championship and the combined boys and girls title. HRV’s Rowan McKenna finished fourth in the girls’ individual combined while Arlie Sparling was eighth. Both had their best race in the giant slalom with McKenna in third and Sparling in fifth. The Eagle boys finished fifth as a team, with Beckett Eaton in 27th in the individual combined standings.
Oregon Class 4A Girls Basketball Playoff First Round
Baker 52, The Dalles 27: The Bulldogs jumped out to a double digit lead and maintained it throughout the game. The Riverhawks finished the season with an 11-14 record.
Oregon Class 1A Boys Basketball Consolation Final
Crosspoint Christian 49, South Wasco 45: Caden Mortiz hit a layup for Crosspoint with 1:28 to go, and after getting a stop on defense, the Warriors gave it right back to him and hit again to make it 47-43 Crosspoint with 54 seconds to go. Moritz finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead Crosspoint. Jason Hull, the new state-record holder in single-season points, had 15 to lead the Redsides along with seven rebounds and four steals.
March 5 Prep Basketball Roundup
Oregon Class 1A Boys Basketball Tournament at Baker City
Consolation Semi-Final
South Wasco 65, Prairie City 58: Jason Hull became Oregon high school basketball’s all-time single season scoring leader as he scored 36 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to lead the Redsides to the victory. Hull passed the season points record set by Lincoln’s Swede Halbrook 74 years ago. Ryker Thompson scored 18 for South Wasco, who took a 17 point lead into halftime but had to withstand a third quarter run by Prairie City. South Wasco meets Crosspoint Christian in the consolation final on Saturday morning at 8 a.m.
March 4 Prep Basketball Roundup
Oregon Class 1A Boys Basketball Tournament at Baker City
Quarterfinal
Open Door Christian 65, South Wasco 60: Open Door held the state’s leading scorer, Jason Hull, to just 15 points and pulled away late after trailing by one going into the fourth.
Hull did find his shot in the third quarter, hitting three triples while freshman teammate Ryker Thompson also scored nine in the period to give the Redsides a one point lead.
But in the fourth Open Door was able to hold Hull to just one made three and hit four as a team, two from Brendan Tischler.
Ethan Zelenivskiy led Open Door with 21 points and grabbing 13 boards along with four steals. Rowen Huff led the Redsides with 20 points and six rebounds while Hull finished with 15 points and five boards. Thompson scored 16 points.
South Wasco will take on Prairie City in the consolation semifinals this morning at 10:45.
NSA Management Plan Amendments For Rebuilding Gets Concurrence
The Secretary of Agriculture has concurred with amendments to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Management Plan designed to streamline the process for those who lost their homes in the Rowena and Burdoin fires last summer to rebuild. Wasco County Community Development Director and Rowena Long-term Recovery Group co-chair Kelly Howsley Glover told Wasco County Commissioners they are waiting for an official transmittal of the concurrence letter to arrive, and then they will have to send a letter back saying they will move forward with implementation. She says they hope to begin processing applications next week for allowing RV’s and temporary accessory storage units on fire-impacted properties. County Commissioner Scott Hege reported that Crestline Construction was making progress on debris removal from Rowena Fire properties, and should be finished with that task very soon.