The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office has suspended recovery operations for a 26-year-old climber from Bend who was last seen attempting to summit Mt. Hood. The Sheriff’s Office was notified by a climbing partner on Saturday morning that 26-year-old Matthew Aldridge of Bend was overdue after he continued to attempt to reach the summit of Mt. Hood via the Newton Clark Headwall with two others who turned back due to conditions on the mountain. The Sheriff’s Office initiated an air and ground search that was narrowed to an area near Pea Gravel Ridge above 8400 feet in elevation after phone data suggested a fall. The first attempt to reach the area with ground searchers on Saturday was unsuccessful due to darkness and unsafe conditions. On Sunday searchers from the Hood River Crag Rats and Portland Mountain Rescue made it to the likely location previously identified but were unsuccessful in locating any sign of Aldridge. Due to deteriorating weather and treacherous conditions, the Sheriff’s Office decided at midday Sunday to withdraw searchers and suspend the ground search. Additional efforts may be attempted as conditions allow, but the search has shifted to a recovery mission.
Wasco County MRC Blanket/Coat Drive Begins
The Wasco County Medical Reserve Corps has launched its annual blanket/coat drive, with four convenient drop-off locations, and will continue collecting items through February. The Corps will be taking donations of blankets, adult-sized coats, socks, boots, tarps, and sleeping bags to benefit St. Vincent de Paul and other local agencies. All items must be new, or gently used, washed and in good condition. The four drop-off locations in The Dalles are the North Central Public Health District office on 419 E. 7th St., La Michoacana on 1210 Kelly Ave., Grocery Outlet at 1300 W. 6th St., and Farmstand on 315 Federal St. If you have any questions, call the North Central Public Health District at (541) 506-2600.
December 12-13 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
The Dalles 75, Astoria 45
Klickitat-Glenwood 81, Elgin 64
Klickitat-Glenwood 80, Pine Eagle 77
South Wasco 60, Perrydale 23
South Wasco 56, Open Door Christian 48
Horizon Christian 43, St. Stephen’s Academy 39
Crosspoint Christian 55, Sherman 38
Illinois Valley 57, Sherman 32
Eddyville 67, Trout Lake 35
Girls Basketball
The Dalles 57, Astoria 30
Columbia 43, Kalama 35
Trout Lake 57, Eddyville 22
Horizon Christian 36, St. Stephan’s Academy 32
Crosspoint Christian 48, Sherman 26
Sherman 55, Illinois Valley 23
Perrydale 35, South Wasco 27
South Wasco 61, Open Door Christian 21
Boys Wrestling
Hood River Valley took third at the Rick Sanders Invitational at Lincoln High School in Portland. Copeland Louis, Ty Baker, and Owen Watts all earned second place finishes.
The Dalles’ Alfred Brackenbury won four out of five matches to finished second at 190 pounds at the Culver Invitational. The Riverhawks’ Harley Scott was fifth at 144 pounds.
Girls Wrestling
Hood River Valley had two individual champions at the Eagles finished fourth in the team standings at the Rick Sanders Invitational at Portland’s Lincoln High School. Shaylee Chavez was first at 100 pounds, and Valeria Solorio Campos won at 170.
The Dalles’ Marie-Louise McCracken won all four of her matches to win at 122 pounds at the Culver Invitational.
Storms Bring Landslide & Debris Flow Risk To Pinchot Forest
Last week’s storms brought over 16-plus inches of rain to portions of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, resulting in localized flooding and increasing the risk of landslides, debris flows, and downed trees across the Forest. Areas of particular concern include recent burn scars and the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Burned areas have an increased likelihood of landslides, mudslides, flash floods, and debris flows due to the lack of vegetation and unstable soil. The Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument can also be an area susceptible to landslides due to the presence of loose volcanic soil. Heavier than normal rainfall can saturate the soil, making it softer and loosen the grip of a tree’s root system, leading to downed trees. Forest managers would like to remind visitors to use caution and do not drive on roads that are underwater or that have been partially washed out from the storm runoff.
Pool Proposal Unveiled
The Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District unveiled its design for a new swimming pool facility to replace the aging Hood River Valley Aquatic Center. The proposal is a hybrid of three options that had been developed, going with a permanent roof rather than the current tent, remaining at the current site with a single story building while swapping the orientation of the main pool and warm water pool to improve access. District Board President Christy Christopher explains the roof would be more durable and cost efficient, while other decisions were made to keep the cost down. The latest estimate of the cost for the project is $43 million, but Christopher says they are still looking for ways to trim the amount. District Executive Director Mark Hickok also said they will need some kind of operations levy as well. Many of those details will get discussed at the next district board meeting on Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. at the Aquatic Center.
Bentz Backed Bill For FTC Social Media Study Passes Committee
A bill co-sponsored by Oregon Second District Congressman Cliff Bentz to require the Federal Trade Commission to conduct a comprehensive study on social media among individuals under the age of seventeen has passed out of committee. HR 6290, the Safe Social Media Act, was unanimously approved by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. Bentz said he has heard from parents, teachers, and mental health professionals who are worried about what social media platforms do to kids. He adds the Act will require the study to gather data to learn how and what social media is impacting children.
December 11 Prep Basketball Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
Bend 95, Hood River Valley 81
Sherman 45, Cove 42
Lyle-Wishram 66, Trout Lake 45
Eddyville 65, Dufur 35
Girls Basketball
Gresham 40, Hood River Valley 37
Dufur 66, Eddyville 7
Sherman 35, Cove 32
Packer Orchards Hearing Continued To February
The Hood River County Planning Commission continued into February its public hearing on Packer Orchards Farm Stand’s appeal of a County administrative decision on required conditions to modify the existing farm stand permit for the Farm Stand operation on land zoned exclusive farm use on Thomsen Road. At issue is the amount the business can take in from fee-based events or incidental product sales, which by state rule is limited to 25% of the farm stand’s income. Packer Orchards has appealed ten of the conditions listed in the permit. Planning Commissioners heard three hours of testimony on Wednesday evening, and while oral testimony was closed, left open the opportunity to submit written testimony for 14 days, with a 14-day rebuttal period for all parties followed by another 14 days for the appellants final rebuttal. As a result, the Planning Commission will reconvene on the matter on February 11 at 5:30 p.m. in the County Administration Building, when the panel will deliberate and make a decision.
Grant Approved For Vets Resource Center At CGCC
The Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs has approved a grant to re-establish a student led Campus Veteran Resource Center at the Columbia Gorge Community College campus in The Dalles. Wasco County officials say the primary goal for the center is to support rural veterans not only in transitioning to college, but in completing degrees and certifications and successfully entering or advancing in the workforce. The center plans to focus on three core pillars: mental health, fellowship, and stewardship to help veterans at CGCC have the support they need to thrive academically, personally, and professionally. For more information on the Campus Veteran Resource Center, call 541-506-2502.
December 10 Prep Basketball Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
Stevenson 39, Horizon Christian 23
Girls Basketball
Stevenson 28, Horizon Christian 25