HAVEN from Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the Wasco County Domestic Violence Council are inviting the public to their Annual Candlelight Vigil, Tuesday evening at 6, starting at The Dalles Civic Auditorium. The evening will include the Passion Award, survivor stories, and a community walk to the Wasco County Courthouse steps for a candlelight vigil. The organizations say it is a chance for the community to honor survivors, remember those we have lost, and stand together against domestic violence and sexual assault.
Port of HR Says Bridge Maintenance Work To Begin November 2
The Port of Hood River says steel and coating maintenance on the Hood River–White Salmon Bridge has been rescheduled to begin November 2nd. The work is intended to keep the existing bridge operational until a replacement bridge is completed. Port Executive Director Kevin Greenwood says after three project delays, they wanted to make sure the contractor had all of its details for the job prepared. The Port says the bridge will be fully closed to vehicle traffic overnight from midnight to 5:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, November 2nd through the 13th. Daytime, single-lane closures are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., November 2nd through 6th, November 16th through 20th, November 23rd and 24th, and weekdays from November 30th through December 11th. Traffic will alternate through one lane during those closures. The Port also warns of additional traffic impacts November 9th through 13th, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the Hood River–White Salmon Bridge Authority conducts separate field activities. All work is weather-dependent, and the schedule may change. Travelers should plan ahead, allow extra travel time and watch for traffic control. For schedule changes and updates, visit portofhoodriver.com.
HRPD Warns Of Phone Scam
The Hood River Police Department is warning local businesses about a phone scam that has targeted area businesses over the past two days and cost victims thousands of dollars. Police say the caller identifies himself as “Mr. Martinez” or “Matthew Martinez” and tells employees an incoming FedEx shipment is required to pass an upcoming Fire Department inspection. The scammer may then send text messages impersonating the business owner or manager, using their actual name to make the request appear legitimate. According to police, the caller threatens a $10,000 fine if a so-called minimum payment isn’t made immediately. Employees are then pressured to open store safes, withdraw cash and send an international wire transfer through Western Union. The Hood River Police Department is urging business owners and managers to alert employees about the scam and remind them never to authorize payments based solely on unexpected phone calls or text messages. Police say employees should verify any payment request through established company procedures before taking action. Anyone who receives a suspicious call is urged to hang up and report it to the Hood River Police Department.
October 16-17 Prep Sports Roundup
Football
Hood River Valley 54, Parkrose 0
LaGrande 54, The Dalles 6
Columbia 56, Fort Vancouver 6
King’s Way Christian 50, Stevenson 36
Dufur 48, Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 14
Imbler 46, Sherman 14
Condon 39, South Wasco 7
Cross Country
Trout Lake’s Melody Stock finished first and Felicity Peck sixth in the girls’ race during a meet at Umatilla. Joby Steward took twelfth in the boys’ race.
Volleyball
The Dalles won two out of three matches at a tournament at Marshfield High School in Coos Bay. The Riverhawks defeated Cottage Grove 25-10, 25-13 and Marshfield 25-18, 25-10, and lost to Ashland 18-25, 25-23, 15-13.
October 15 Prep Sports Roundup
Boys Soccer
The Dalles 2, Madras 0: The Riverhawks avenge a loss from last month and move into solo possession of first place in the Tri-Valley Conference.
Trout Lake-Horizon Christian 4, Damascus Christian 2
Girls Soccer
Kalama 1, Columbia 0
King’s Way Christian 8, Stevenson 0
Volleyball
Hood River Valley def. Parkrose 25-16, 25-15, 25-16
The Dalles def. Molalla 25-27, 25-12, 25-16, 25-20: The Riverhawks won their eighth straight Tri-Valley Conference match.
Kalama def. Columbia 3-0
King’s Way Christian def. Stevenson 3-0
Dufur def. Trout Lake-Glenwood 25-15, 25-12, 25-13: The Rangers win the Big Sky Conference regular season title, going unbeaten in 12 league matches.
South Wasco def. Horizon Christian 25-17, 25-12, 25-20
Sherman def. Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 17-25, 25-14, 23-25, 25-23, 15-5
Boys Water Polo
Hood River Valley 11, David Douglas 5
Girls Water Polo
David Douglas 11, Hood River Valley 7
Highway 26 Accident Kills Bend Man
Oregon State Police say a 55-year-old Bend man was killed in a head-on crash on Highway 26 in Wasco County Tuesday evening. State police say the crash happened around 6:22 p.m. near milepost 62, close to Government Camp. According to investigators, a westbound 2024 Ford Transit van driven by 20-year-old Alexander Nikkole Meira of Portland crossed into the eastbound lane and collided head-on with a 2022 Subaru Outback driven by 55-year-old Craig Gerard Russillo of Bend. The Subaru caught fire, and several passing motorists pulled Russillo from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Meira suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Oregon State Police say impairment is believed to have contributed to the crash. Meira was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving and second-degree manslaughter. He was lodged at the Northern Oregon Regional Corrections Facility. Highway 26 was impacted for approximately five hours while investigators worked at the scene.
Pavement Work In The Dalles Next Week
The Dalles Public Works Department will begin a pavement preservation project Monday, affecting portions of East 13th Street and Court Street. East 13th Street will be closed between Washington and Union Streets, and Court Street will be closed between East 12th and East 14th Streets. Full road closures will be in effect Monday through Thursday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., through October 29th, weather permitting. The streets will reopen to traffic each evening and on weekends. Crews will grind and reshape the roadways October 19th through the 22nd, followed by paving work October 26th through the 29th. Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians are asked to follow detours, use caution and obey all temporary traffic control signs and devices. For a complete list of projects and a map of the 2026 pavement preservation program, visit thedalles.gov/summerstreetmaintenance.
Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Delays In November
Drivers using the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge should prepare for delays and extended closures November 10th through the 13th. The Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority says crews will conduct preparatory field work on and near the bridge from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Travelers can expect intermittent rolling stops, with delays of up to 15 minutes, along with three to four full bridge closures each day lasting as long as one hour. The work is weather-dependent, so exact closure times won’t be available in advance. Crews will try to avoid peak travel periods and minimize disruptions. The work, which includes drone operations, will help prepare for test pile installation expected early next year. Engineers will use the test piles to study how the existing bridge responds to vibrations and other effects from pile installation. That information will help guide plans for the future Hood River-White Salmon Bridge replacement.
Northern Wasco PUD Earns Workplace Recognition
Northern Wasco County People’s Utility District has earned recognition on two Oregon workplace lists, both based on employee feedback. The utility ranked 13th among 33 large organizations on Oregon Business magazine’s 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon list. It’s the third consecutive year Northern Wasco PUD has made the list, moving up from 21st place in 2024 and 16th last year. Northern Wasco PUD also ranked 16th among 34 small employers in The Oregonian’s Top Workplaces 2026 list. That’s the utility’s second consecutive year on the list, and an improvement from 20th place last year. The Oregonian’s rankings included 102 employers across Oregon and Southwest Washington. According to Northern Wasco PUD, employee surveys highlighted workplace culture, work-life balance, pay, benefits and employee well-being as strengths. The utility says that workplace culture and a shared sense of purpose help it attract and retain employees.
October 14 Prep Sports Roundup
Cross Country
Hood River Valley grabbed five of the top ten places to hold off host Putnam in the boys’ portion of a Northwest Oregon Conference race. Gus VandenHouvel was third and Joshua Carley fourth to led HRV. The Eagle girls finished second behind Sandy, as HRV’s Savina Davis outpaced the field by nearly two and a half minutes to easily win the race.
The Dalles girls finished third at the Estacada Invitational. Flamingo Ducyk was the top Riverhawk finisher in fifth. The Dalles was 11th in the boys race, led by Luke Sorenson in 20th.
LaCenter topped Columbia and Kalama in a three-school Trico League race in White Salmon. Lilah Zimmerman and Kathryn O’Connor finished one-two for CHS atop the girls’ race. The Bruins’ Colby Clark finished third in the boys’ race.
Stevenson won the girls’ half of a four school Trico meet at King’s Way Christian. Daisy Jones and A’Layjha Johnson had a one-two finish for the Bulldogs. Stevenson was second to a dominant Seton Catholic squad in the boys’ race. Colton Hollis was the top Bulldog finisher in ninth.