West 1st Street in The Dalles will reopen to all traffic between Union Street and Terminal Way at approximately 6 p.m. Friday evening. This route will serve as a direct connection between Downtown The Dalles and the Port Area. Access to the Port Area from the west side of The Dalles will continue via West 6th Street and River Road. Starting on Monday morning, Webber Street will be closed to through traffic in both directions as Crestline Construction continues work on the Westside Interceptor Upgrades – Phase 2 Project. Webber Street is expected to remain closed well into July. Businesses along West 1st Street between Terminal Way and Webber Street will continue to be accessed from Bargeway Road.
April 16 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Hood River Valley 10, Parkrose 0: Trevor Jacobs did not give up a hit in the game that was shortened to five innings, striking out 11. The Eagles stole seven bases on the way to the victory that gave them the sweep of the two-game series.
Columbia 10, King’s Way Christian 3: Garrick Sauter and Greg Borton drove in two runs each as CHS gained a split in the Trico League series.
LaCenter sweeps Stevenson 10-2 and 11-1
Softball
The Dalles 7, Stayton 3: Madalynn Sagapolutele went three for four with a homer, a double, and two runs batted in, while Morgan Donivan also had three hits and two RBI.
King’s Way Christian 6, Columbia 4: CHS couldn’t quite come back from a six-run deficit as the two teams split their Trico League series.
Stevenson 5, LaCenter 0: Jewel Waymire threw a one-hitter to lead the Bulldogs to the win. Chloe White drove in two runs, and Evelyn McIlwain went three for three at theplate.
Track & Field
Hood River Valley’s girls defeated Parkrose and Canby in a Northwest Oregon Conference meet. Diyora Khudoidodova won both the javelin and high jump for HRV. The Eagle boys were second to Canby.
Boys Tennis
Hood River Valley 5, Parkrose 3
Boys Volleyball
Reynolds def. Hood River Valley 25-14, 26-24, 25-14
Westside Christian def. The Dalles 25-9, 25-17, 25-15
Boys Lacrosse
Hood River Valley 7, Grant 6
Martin Family Remains Identified
DNA analysis has revealed that human remains found in the vicinity of a car located in a catch-basin area of the original locks at Cascade Locks are those of three members of a family who went missing in December 1958. The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office says the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office positively identified one set of remains as those of Kenneth Martin, and based on other factors identified the others as his wife Barbara and 14-year-old daughter Barbie. They disappeared in December 1958 while reportedly visiting the Gorge to collect Christmas greenery. The bodies of two other daughters, Virginia and Susan, were found downstream months later. A private diver in 2024 found underwater what was eventually concluded to be the car the family was in, and returned to that location in 2025, located the human remains, and turned them over to law enforcement. The Sheriff’s Office says it found no evidence of a crime, and concluded its investigation into the case.
Motorcyclist Dies In I-84 Accident
A motorcyclist died in a two-vehicle accident on Interstate 84 in The Dalles late Tuesday morning. According to the Oregon State Police, an Oregon Department of Transportation attenuator vehicle was supporting a mobile brooming operation sweeping along the center median of I-84 near milepost 87, and was stationary in the left lane as a safety barrier when it was struck from behind by a motorcycle. The OSP says the operator of the motorcycle…38-year-old Ryan Christopher King of West Richland, Washington…was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the ODOT vehicle, a 42-year-old man from The Dalles, was not injured. The OSP was assisted at the scene by the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office, The Dalles Police Department, Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, and ODOT.
April 15 Prep Sports Roundup
Wednesday Schedule
Baseball
Parkrose at Hood River Valley, postponed
King’s Way Christian 8, Columbia 2: A five-run second inning propelled the Knights to the Trico League win. Ryder Graves had a pair of hits for the Bruins.
Softball
Parkrose at Hood River Valley, postponed
The Dalles at Stayton, postponed
Track and Field
The Dalles outdistanced Gladstone in a Tri-Valley Conference dual at Sid White Field. Derek Goulart, Willow Ziegenhagen, and Flamingo Duyck all won two events apiece for the Riverhawks.
Columbia’s girls were second and boys third in a four-school Trico League meet at Fort Vancouver. Seven different Bruins won events during the course of the meet.
Stevenson’s boys won a four-school Trico League meet at Kalama. Jude Travinski won both the 100 and 200 meters for the Bulldogs. Stevenson finished third in the girls’ half of the meet. Daisy Jones was first in both the 800 and 1600 meters.
Wasco County Ratifies Camping Policy
Wasco County Commissioners formally ratified the current policy governing camping on County-owned and other public property. County legal counsel Kristen Campbell says the Commission formalizing it puts the County in compliance with state law. County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Scott Williams notes they always work with people, and enforcement is actually a last resort. Under the policy, deputies are required to post a written notice at least 72 hours prior to the removal of an established site. Personal property with apparent utility is stored for a minimum of 30 days in the same community where it was removed. At the time of notice, local social service agencies are notified to provide outreach and assistance to site occupants
PitchFest Applications Due Friday
Applications for this year’s Gorge PitchFest are being taken through Friday at 5 p.m. from entrepreneurs looking to grow their business concept. Five finalists will be selected to give their pitch to a panel of judges and an audience at the Granada Theatre in The Dalles on May 28, with an opportunity to win a $10,000 grand prize. Jakob Lillvik of the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District says applicants don’t need to have a perfect pitch to take part. There will be cash awards for all five finalists. To apply, go to midcolumbiainnovationhub.org.
Bentz Introduces Bill To Get More Input On Federal Water Projects
Oregon Second District Congressman Cliff Bentz has introduced a bill he says will improve transparency and ensure meaningful input from local water users in the operation of federal water projects. Bentz says the Federal Water Projects Consultation Act would require federal agencies to provide contractors with ongoing opportunities to engage during Endangered Species Act consultation, increase transparency around biological assessments and biological opinions, clearly explain the scientific and legal basis for actions that could reduce water deliveries, allow affected entities to review and comment on draft biological opinions, and ensure meaningful participation when developing alternatives that impact water supply. The legislation applies to federal water projects managed by the Bureau of Reclamation across Reclamation states. Bentz believes that decisions are often made without adequate input from local contractors, irrigation districts, and the communities that depend on these water projects. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
NDI Names King As Volunteer Of The Year
The Next Door has named Christy King as our Volunteer of the Year. King is a mentor with Gorge Youth Mentoring. King has dedicated countless hours to exploring the Gorge, trying new experiences, and supporting her mentee, Damian, grown in ways that go far beyond GYM’s program requirements. Together, they hike scenic trails, visit history museums, go bowling, enjoy food outings, attend cultural events like the Gorge Festival of Nations, and spend time wildlife viewing, spotting sea lions, sea otters, and pikas. In the winter, they visit the mountain to sled and snowshoe, and in the summer, they regularly take part in free stand up paddleboarding with Wylde Wind and Water in Hood River. Damian’s mother describes King as “an amazing match,” and says that without her, Damian wouldn’t have access to so many enriching experiences.
TD Council Approves Federal Street Plaza Contract
The Dalles City Council approved a contract with Ajax Engineering for construction of the Federal Street Plaza. Cost is $3.398 million, which came in about $400,000 under engineer’s estimates. Construction is expected to start in June. Discussion centered mainly over the inclusion of a water feature that will cost approximately $1 million, and whether that was a good use of funds, especially with concerns over water use. Consultant Mike Zillis with the firm Walker Macy told the Council any delays in moving forward would likely increase the cost of the project significantly given current inflation, and set construction back to 2027. Councilor Dan Richardson says the plaza is an opportunity to advance as a community. The Council vote was 4-1, with Ben Wring opposing.