The Hood River City Council approved its 2026-27 budget on Monday. Most of the discussion before the approval revolved around a very small portion of it, $15,500 for disbursement of small grants. Councilor Gladys Rivera called for $5,000 of it to go towards mental health support for those impacted by immigration issues, $1,000 for sponsorship of youth sports programs, and committing to allocate a specific budget percentage to funds for small grants in the future. But that led to the question of how the fund came to be in the first place. Urban Renewal Administrator Will Norris noted it might be funds from brick sales for the downtown fountain that were made years ago and be dedicated to the Stratton Gardens’ maintenance. The Council passed the budget, and will discuss the small grants fund at a future meeting.
TD City Council Approves Pay Increases For Klebes & Kara
The Dalles City Council approved pay increases for Hood River City Manager Matthew Klebes and City Attorney Jonathan Kara. Both will receive a 2.7% cost of living increase and 3% step increase other employees get, and 2 1/2% merit increases. Councilors approved the moves unanimously. Councilor Tim McGlothlin says it is important for the City to keep their pay rates in line with similar communities. Mayor Rich Mays noted it was harder to develop comparables for Kara, as many cities the size of The Dalles contract out for legal services. The Council also approved the 2026-27 budget as presented from the budget committee.
TDPD Target Of Vandalism
The Dalles Police Department building was the target of vandalism on Monday night. In a social media post, the department says an individual broke several glass doors at the department’s office and caused other minor damage. Officers responded and took the person into custody for criminal mischief and burglary in the second degree. That person was lodged at the Northern Oregon Regional Corrections Facility in The Dalles. The department said its facilities staff also responded, cleaned up the broken glass, and they experienced no disruption in service.
Matthews Receives 150 Month Sentence In Hayes Death
A 32-year-old man received a 150-month prison sentence in the April 2024 death of a Hood River man who was run over by a pickup truck when he caught three people trying to steal his bicycle. Johnathan Matthews pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree, Robbery in the Third Degree, and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle following a judicial settlement conference in the Hood River County Courthouse on Monday. Hood River County District Attorney Matt Ellis says Matthews had stolen the truck from Jacobs Sanitation in The Dalles, and with co-defendants William Hardy, Jr. and Elizabeth Bowman drove to Hood River, where Hardy attempted to steal a bike owned by Stephen Hayes and put in the bed of the pickup. Hayes ran out of his home, and grabbed the passenger side of the truck as Matthews tried to drive away. Matthews sped and swerved, dragging Hayes, throwing him to the ground, and running him over. Hardy pled guilty to robbery, theft, and burglary charges as part of an agreement to testify against Matthews should the matter have gone to trial, and his sentencing is pending.
Man Arrested On Trafficking & Sex Charges
A 47-year-old man who has operated coffee businesses in the area was arrested over the weekend on forty-six different charges, including 38 felonies, involving trafficking in persons, compelling prostitution, and online sexual corruption of a child. Hood River County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Joel Ives confirmed Bryan Matthew McGeeney was arrested over the weekend by the Hood River Police Department after a joint investigation by both agencies. Records at the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility show McGeeney was taken into custody on Friday, and has been lodged there since then. According to Oregon Circuit Court records, a grand jury indictment was issued on Friday along with a warrant for McGeeney’s arrest. Multiple charges of rape, delivery of cocaine to a minor, unlawful delivery of a marijuana item, and furnishing alcohol to a person under 21 cited in the court documents. Ives said the charges involve alleged crimes that occurred in Hood River and Wasco counties. McGeeney was arraigned before Circuit Judge Karen Ostrye in Hood River today, and there is a plea hearing scheduled for tomorrow morning at 11:30.
TD Marina Report In Draft Form
The Port of The Dalles has received a draft of a Marina Facilities Condition Assessment Report, and it is under review by Port staff. The Port hired a professional marine engineering company to examine the Marina’s infrastructure both above and below water. Port Executive Director Andrea Klaas says they are looking for more details on some of the items noted in the draft. Among them is the underwater pilings for the Marina’s D Finger, which remain after the dock was destroyed by fire. Klaas says divers found a lot of corrosion on those pilings. Once finalized, the report will help the Port determine improvement decisions at the Marina.
City of Hood River To Host Community Events On Bond Potential
The City of Hood River will host two community events this June on potential bond measures for the November 2026 ballot. On June 23rd, there will be a Housing Town Hall and Panel Discussion from 6 p.m. to 7:30 pm at City Hall. Panelists will include Mid-Columbia Housing Authority Executive Director Karen Long, Big River Community Land Trust Executive Director Alysha Sherburne, and local developer Maui Meyer. The City is exploring a variety of bond sizes and models to use housing bond dollars: rentals, co-ops, and limited-equity ownership. The Town Hall is an opportunity to learn about them and provide feedback. On June 29th, there will be a Police Station Open House and Tour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at City Hall. The Hood River Police Department currently works out of a modified fire engine bay in the basement of City Hall that lacks many of the features necessary for police work. The City is exploring a construction bond to upgrade the police station and resolve ongoing deficiencies.
Man Arrested In Connection With Fossil Fires
A man wanted as a person of interest as a result of multiple fires in Fossil was taken into custody late Thursday after firefighters saw suspicious lights in the hills north of Fossil. Drones identified multiple power poles on fire Thursday. The Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office says its deputies along with multiple law enforcement officers from the Oregon State Police, Union, Yamhill and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Offices, and the FBI conducted a join tactical operation that led to an OSP officer to convince 28-year-old Ethan Burlingame in a phone conversation to surrender peacefully. Burlingame was taken into custody and later lodged at NORCOR in The Dalles. Fire crews from the Fossil Volunteer Fire Department, Wheeler Fire and Rescue, and Oregon Department of Forestry responded to take care of the power pole fires. The investigation is on-going.
Fishery Managers Extend Spring Chinook Fishing
Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington added eleven more recreational spring Chinook fishing days on the mainstem Columbia during a joint state hearing this week, continuing the season to June 15. Upstream of Bonneville Dam, the area from the Tower Island power lines about six miles downstream of The Dalles Dam to the Oregon/Washington border, plus only the banks from Bonneville Dam upstream to the Tower Island power lines, will be open to spring Chinook fishing through June 15. Downstream of Bonneville Dam to the Tongue Point/Rocky Point line will also be open. Anglers are reminded that from March 1 through June 15 on days when the mainstem Columbia River recreational fishery below Bonneville Dam is open to retention of Chinook, the daily salmonid bag limit in Oregon and Washington Select Areas will be the same as mainstem Columbia River bag limits.
Hustlers Sweep Opening Doubleheader
The Columbia Gorge Hustlers opened their American Legion Baseball season with a sweep of the Columbia Gorge River Bandits on Thursday night at Quinton Street Park. In game one, Elliot Dillingham drove in four runs on a pair of doubles. In the nightcap, Dillingham had two more doubles while Gunner Bustos and Kale Beardmore each had two runs batted in. The two teams meet again on Tuesday at Quinton Street Park for a 5:30 twinbill.