The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the individual or individuals suspected of contaminating a pond near the White River Wildlife Area in Tygh Valley. The OSP says on March 26, multiple cans of spray foam were located in a small pond bordering the White River Wildlife Area. The cans had been compromised, causing the foam to leak into the water. It appeared that the cans and foam had been there for several days prior to their discovery. Information leading to the identification and citation or arrest of the individuals could yield a reward of $300. Anyone with information may email a tip to TIP@osp.oregon.gov or contact the Oregon State Police Dispatch at 800-442-2068 or by calling *OSP (*677) from a mobile phone. Reference case number SP26-100289.
April 9 Prep Sports Roundup
Softball
The Dalles 14, Hood River Valley 1: Morgan Donivan doubled twice and drove in three runs, while Ainslee Eisland hit a two-run homer as the Riverhawks cruised after a seven-run second inning.
Columbia 12, Stevenson 1: Julia Mullinix drove in five runs on three doubles. Fiona Grabb had three hits and four RBI as the Bruins scored 11 runs in the opening three innings.
Baseball
Columbia 10, Stevenson 3: Cameron Collins had three hits and three runs batted in to pace CHS. Garrick Satuer and Trenton Boydston combined to limit the Bulldogs to one hit.
Track and Field
Wilsonville was the boys’ winner and Putnam topped the girls in a three-school Northwest Oregon Conference meet at Henderson Stadium. HRV’s Matt Trickey won the boys’ 100 and 200 meters, while the Eagles’ Georgiana Williams won the girls’ 100 and 200.
Boys Tennis
LaSalle 7, Hood River Valley 1
The Dalles 5, Sisters 3
Girls Tennis
Hood River Valley 4, LaSalle 4
Boys Volleyball
Barlow def. Hood River Valley 21-25, 13-25, 25-21, 25-11, 15-12
Molalla def. The Dalles 25-18, 25-11, 25-20
Hood River School Officials Continue Budget Discussion
As Hood River County School District board members received an update on budget work, conversation turned toward the proposed move of Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education services from the old Pine Grove School campus to space in Mid-Valley Elementary School. A number of board members asked for more financial detail on what would be save by the move and the potential costs involved to get the Mid-Valley location ready for the program. Superintendent Bill Newton says they will have those numbers for the budget committee in late April, adding there are number of factors involved in the decision, including the age of the building, which is over 100 years old. District Chief Financial Officer Mark DeMoss says the Oregon Department of Education anticipates it will cost $2.5 million over the next ten years to maintain the Pine Grove building in its current condition.
Old Dufur Road Projects Begin Monday
The Dalles Public Works on Monday will begin work on Phase 1 of new utility service installation projects located on Old Dufur Rd, requiring a partial road closure through April 21. A traffic message board will be in place during work hours at the intersection of East 10th and Old Dufur Road reading “One lane road ahead, up to 20 minute wait. Flaggers will direct vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians safely through the work zone as equipment use allows. Work hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on each scheduled work day. The road will reopen at the end of each working day. On April 20 City crews will begin repair of the paved area where new utility services were installed. No parking will be allowed within the project areas to allow room for large equipment to safely work. No parking signs will be placed on road side 48 hours before the project moves into each work area.
Water Main Work To Close Traffic On Highway 141
As work continues on the City of White Salmon’s water transmission main replacement, a full closure of a portion of Washington State Route 141 will be required beginning on Monday. The highway will be closed on weekdays from the intersection of SR 141 and Alternate 141 to the top of Bald Mountain, but will reopen to regular traffic on weekends. During the closure, through traffic will not be allowed within the project area, and drivers will need to use alternate routes. Clearly marked detours and traffic control will be in place to help guide travel and maintain safety. Traffic control and signage will be in place to assist with detours and ensure public safety. Emergency vehicles and school buses will be allowed through the work zone to maintain critical services and access. The closure will continue through May 22.
Fish Passage Operations Start At Dams Friday
Spring fish passage operations begin Friday at federal dams on the lower Columbia River. The timing follows requirements in NOAA Fisheries’ 2014 Supplemental Biological Opinion and recent U.S. District Court orders. The Army Corps of Engineers says this year’s operations call for increased spill — sending more water over dam spillways — up to 125% of state water quality limits in Oregon and Washington for total dissolved gas. Water supply forecasts for 2026 show near-normal conditions in the Columbia River Basin. The April-through-August forecast is 93% of normal at The Dalles Dam. Higher river flows during spring runoff, combined with increased spill, can create faster currents and elevated water levels below dams. River users are encouraged to use caution and always wear a life jacket. The Corps says additional actions to support salmon and steelhead will continue under current biological opinion requirements.
April 8 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Hood River Valley 3, Summit 0: Landon Pratt pitched a five-hit shutout as the Eagles defeated last year’s state 5A champions and won their third straight over a top ten opponent. Pratt struck out nine in his first varsity complete game. Kingston McAdam homered for HRV, which moved to 6-3 on the season.
Boys Soccer
Columbia 14, Stevenson 0
Girls Tennis
Columbia 3, Stevenson 3
Girls Flag Football
The Dalles 24, St. Helens 18
April 7 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Hood River Valley 3, Corvallis 2: Davin Snyder singled home Maverick Hockett to give HRV the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, and Trevor Jacobs pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the seventh to giver the Eagles their second straight win over a ranked opponent. Jacobs also drove in a run when HRV scored their other runs in the first inning.
Pendleton 14, The Dalles 0: Pendleton pitchers Reid Fustenberg and Kolt McQuinn combined to no-hit the Riverhawks.
Columbia 18, Stevenson 12: The Bruins scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning to nail down the Trico League win. Gabe Borton drove in three runs for CHS.
Softball
Hood River Valley 12, Corvallis 9: The Eagles rang up 12 hits and scored in every inning but the first on the way to their first win of the season. Eight of the nine Eagles in the lineup had base hits, while Isa Rivera did not but also drove in three runs. Kenadie Lucas had three hits, including a double and a triple.
Columbia 15, Stevenson 0: The Bruins scored nine runs in the first inning and pulled away from there. Julia Mullinix had two triples and drove in three runs, while Fiona Grabb also had three RBI.
Track and Field
Estacada topped The Dalles in a three-school meet that also included Damascus Christian. Alondra Romero won the girls’ high jump while Flamingo Duyck won the girls’ 400 for the Riverhawks.
Boys Lacrosse
Nelson 15, Hood River Valley 3
Girls Lacrosse
Lakeridge 7, Hood River Valley 6
Boys Volleyball
Hood River Valley def. Parkrose 25-21, 25-20, 25-15
Boys Tennis
The Dalles 6, Madras 2
Boys Golf
The Dalles finished fourth in a Tri-Valley Conference tournament at Desert Peaks in Madras. The Riverhawks’ Andrew Westin shot an 80 to finish fourth.
Girls Golf
The Dalles was third in a six-school tournament at Glendoveer in Portland. The Riverhawks’ Elliot Winwood finished sixth in the tournament.
Gorge Commission Staff Carries On Through Budget Cut
Klickitat County’s Columbia River Gorge Commission representative Valerie Fowler talked to County Commissioners on Tuesday about how the Gorge Commission office is functioning in the wake of budget cuts resulting from actions in the Washington Legislature. Fowler praised Gorge Commission staff for continuing progress even as their hours have been reduced, with the office open from Monday through Thursday and planners working on a part-time basis. Fowler says staff is keeping up with Klickitat County applications. She added this week, the sixth land use application to replace a dwelling destroyed in the Burdoin Fire received staff approval.
Webber Street Revisions Begin Wednesday
Starting Wednesday morning, Webber Street in The Dalles will partially reopen to traffic with temporary traffic controls in place as Crestline Construction continues work on Phase 2 of the Westside Interceptor Upgrade Project. Between 6:30 in the morning and about 6:00 in the evening, Monday through Saturday, Webber Street will be open to eastbound traffic only toward the Columbia River and the Port of The Dalles. Westbound traffic, away from the river and out of the Port area, will be detoured via River Road to West 6th Street. Webber Street will be open to two-way traffic from 6:00 in the evening to 6:30 in the morning, Monday through Saturday, and all day Sunday. These traffic measures will remain in place until West 1st Street reopens between Union Street and Terminal Way, restoring a direct connection between the Downtown area and the Port. Once that segment of West 1st Street reopens, Webber Street is expected to close again beginning April 20, with the closure anticipated to continue into July.