By a 5-2 vote, the Hood River County Planning Commission sustained an appeal by Thrive Hood River of a staff decision to grant an industrial land use permit for Amazon to construct a 48,690 square foot warehouse distribution facility north of Highway 35 and southeast of Neal Creek Mill Road. Commissioners who voted to deny the permit felt traffic studies done by the applicant had not taken into consideration enough peak period times and enough intersections that could be impacted by the vehicle traffic generated by the warehouse. Some on the panel explored whether they could ask the applicant to generate the information they are looking for, but applicant attorney Carrie Richter said without knowing more specifics and the standard they would be held to, they would not consent to extending the hearing. In the end, Planning Commissioner Jon Kelter Gehrig said the cleanest path forward was to sustain the appeal and allow the applicant to make its own appeal to the County Commission, so he made the motion that was approved. Once findings of fact are prepared and signed, an appeal can be made to the County Commission.
Providence HR Technologists Vote To Join ONA
Forty-three technologists at Providence Hood River have voted to join the Oregon Nurses Association. The group is comprised of respiratory therapists, MRI technologists, ultrasound technologists, surgical technicians, and others. As a group they are one of four new groups at Providence Oregon facilities that will now be represented by ONA. Other bargaining units were established at Providence Portland and Providence Willamette Falls, representing nearly 550 professional and technical employees. All of the hospitals already have long-established nurse units. The organizing wins come as eight ONA-represented bargaining units at Providence prepare to negotiate contracts that expire at the end of 2026 and early 2027.
Klickitat County Zone 3 Burn Ban Starts Monday
An open outdoor burning ban for Klickitat County Zone 3, which incldes White Salmon, will become effective on Monday. That will place the whole County under a burn ban, as Zones 1 and 2 entered into bans two weeks ago. Zone Three encompasses the west end of Klickitat County, including West Klickitat Regional Fire Authority, as well as Klickitat County Fire Districts 1, 8, and 13. Open outdoor burning is not allowed during the burn ban. This includes wood burning recreational fires and fire pits. Burning permits will not be issued. Propane and natural gas devices with shutoff valves, such as grills, may still be used safely and attended. View the full resolution and burn ban maps at klickitatcounty.org.
May 27 Prep Sports Roundup: Riverhawks Advance To Quarterfinals
Oregon Class 4A Softball First Round
The Dalles 10, Hidden Valley 0: The Riverhawks smashed five home runs, two by Morgan Donivan, to advance to the quarterfinals. Madalynn Sagapolutele, Siyra Faulkner, and Ava Graves also homered for The Dalles. Faulkner and Riley Wilcox combined to pitch a one-hitter. The Riverhawks move on to host fellow Tri-Valley Conference member Gladstone in the quarterfinals. The Dalles won two out of three games in the regular season series between the two clubs. The game will be Friday at 5 p.m. at 16th Street Park.
City Of Hood River Taking Ownership Of Hwy 281 On The Heights
The City of Hood River will take over ownership of Oregon Highway 281 from its intersection with Oak Street up through the Heights on July 1. City Councilors approved taking over the road from the Oregon Department of Transportation, something the City wanted as it embarks on the Heights Streetscape Plan. Urban Renewal Administrator Will Norris says the City will take over management of the sections of 12th and 13th Streets that are part of Highway 281, which in many cases were already being maintained by the City. ODOT will pay the City $2.3 million as general compensation for the transfer, which is about the cost for grind and overlay of the roadway. The City will also receive over $1.7 million to take responsibility for installing ADA compliant ramps along Taylor Avenue and on 13th Street from Taylor Avenue to Belmont by December 31, 2028. ODOT will retain responsibility for installing ADA compliant ramps everywhere else in the Heights along Highway 281 by December 31, 2032.
HR Council Moves Hotel Parking To Columbia Lot
The Hood River City Council approved a plan to restrict usage of its hospitality program downtown parking passes to the Columbia Avenue lot between 5 p.m. and 11 a.m. each day, eliminating on-street spaces. The move was made after some downtown businesses said parking availability was being squeezed since the opening of the Lightwell Hotel, which increased use of hospitality parking passes that have been available since 2012. City Councilors noted this will be an interim step as they review a 2019 parking study and update it where needed. It also may spark a renewed conversation about a parking garage in downtown Hood River.
TD Council Approves Water Management Plan Update
The Dalles City Council approved an update to the municipal water management and conservation plan. City Public Works Director Dale McCabe pointed out that unlike when the plan was first developed in 2014, the municipal water system is now seeing water loss above ten percent, which triggers a need to provide the state with an analysis by April 1 of 2028. He says work on that is already underway. McCabe added there are two aging transmission lines that total fourteen miles from the treatment plant to town, and they are trying to be extra diligent in looking at those for leaks. He also says they are targeted for replacement in the recently developed capital improvement plan for the municipal water system.
WAGAP Names New Executive Director
Washington Gorge Action Programs has named Julie K. Hester as its next Executive Director. She is currently transitioning into the job as she takes over for current director Jennifer Pauletto, who will step down at the end of June. Hester has spent over fifteen years working at the Portland-based National Crime Victim Law Institute. Hester says she was drawn to WAGAP’s focus on expanding opportunities by delivering essential services that lead to self-sufficiency and well-being. Hester joins WAGAP during a challenging time as it navigates funding uncertainty and a rising demand for services.
Zen Fire At 40% Containment
Containment of the Zen Fire south of Clarno is now at 40%. Central Oregon Fire Information says size of the fire has remained at abuot 1,500 acres. Recent rain has played a key role in moderating fire behavior after strong wind gusts helped drive rapid spread when the fire first ignited. The terrain remains one of the biggest challenges. Much of the fire is burning in steep, rugged areas with limited access, making it difficult for crews to fully map the fire perimeter and establish containment lines. Firefighters are relying on a mix of ground crews, air resources and specialized teams to navigate cliffs and narrow canyon areas. There are no road closures, evacuations or public access restrictions tied to the fire.
May 26 Prep Sports Roundup: Eagles Advance To 5A Baseball Quarterfinals
Oregon Class 5A Baseball First Round
#2 Hood River Valley 8, #15 Crescent Valley 3: Elliott Dillingham’s two-run triple capped a four-run bottom of the third inning that gave the Eagles the lead for good. Dillingham drove in three runs and Kingston McAdam had two RBI to lead HRV to their 21st win of the season. Bodie Stuben struck out six over four innings of scoreless relief on the mound to earn the win for the Eagles. HRV will host tenth-ranked Ridgeview in the quarterfinals on Friday at 5 p.m. at Traner Field.
#10 Ridgeview 6, #7 LaSalle 3
#1 Corvallis 3, #16 Canby 1
#8 Thurston 4, #9 Bend 2
#12 West Albany 5, #5 Crater 2
#4 Summit 8, #13 Eagle Point 0
#14 Silverton 9, #3 North Eugene 1
#6 Central 5, #11 Wilsonville 3
Oregon Class 4A Softball First Round
#14 Hidden Valley at #3 The Dalles, today at 5 p.m. at 16th Street Park…winner plays Gladstone in the quarterfinal on Friday.
#11 Gladstone 5, #6 Central 3
#1 Scappoose 8, #16 Sweet Home 0
#9 Estacada 5, #8 Baker 3
#5 Marist 1, #12 Stayton 0
#4 Astoria 7, #13 North Bend 0
#7 Henley 12, #10 Pendleton 8
#2 St. Helens 11, #15 Junction City 1