Two people were taken to a hospital following a two-vehicle accident Tuesday morning on Highway 97 just south of the Klickitat-Yakima county line. According to the Washington State Patrol, a pickup truck was southbound on Highway 97 near milepost 28 just after 8 a.m. Tuesday morning when it crossed the center line and struck a northbound car. The WSP says the two people in the car, a 44-year-old woman and a 53-year-old man from Vancouver, were both taken to Klickitat Valley Hospital in Goldendale for treatment of injuries. Three women in the pickup, ranging in age from 15 to 40 and all from Vancouver, were not injured. The person driving the pickup was cited for negligent driving. The WSP says both vehicles were totaled.
Author: mbailey
Early Turnout Trailing 2020 Election
Early ballot return numbers show the rate of return in both Hood River and Wasco counties is well below the pace of the last Presidential election in 2020. Hood River County election officials report that at the end of Tuesday, 1,573 ballots had been returned, 9.37% of those sent out last week. At the same point in 2020 the County had received 3,312 ballots, a return rate of just over 21 percent. The Wasco County Clerk’s Office said it had received 1,361 ballots as of Tuesday, 7.19% of the total distributed. In 2020, the return rate was just over 19 percent, with 3,460 ballots returned.
October 22 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Volleyball
The Dalles def. Molalla 25-9, 25-12, 25-17
King’s Way Christian def. Columbia 27-25, 21-25, 25-18, 25-18
Stevenson def. Seton Catholic 25-22, 25-20, 25-23
South Wasco def. Horizon Christian 25-11, 25-12, 25-17
Goldendale 3, White Swan 0
Boys Soccer
Hood River Valley 1, Canby 0
The Dalles 5, Estacada 0
Girls Soccer
The Dalles 4, Estacada 0
Canby 6, Hood River Valley 3
King’s Way Christian 6, Columbia 1
Seton Catholic 9, Stevenson 0
Valley Catholic 7, Trout Lake-Glenwood 0
HRCSD Taking Applications For Budget Committee Positions
The Hood River County School District is taking applications for two vacant positions on its budget committee. The committee of appointed community members and school board members reviews and approves the District’s budget. Committee vacancies are in Zone 6 representing the East Hood River & Pine Grove areas, and a Zone 7 Hood River County member at large. Both positions are for three-year terms. The budget committee, comprised of seven citizens and seven school board directors, will meet in May to review the proposed budget, take public comments, and approve a budget for the school board to review. Once approved, the budget is set for final adoption by the school board. Applications are available online at the school district website at hoodriver.k12.or.us. The application deadline is November 6 at 5 p.m.
Klickitat County Burn Ban Lifted
Klickitat County Commissioners have rescinded the burn ban that’s been in effect since late spring. The decision to lift the bans applies to all three of the county’s burn ban zones. Current and forecasted weather conditions led to the decision to end the burn bans on unincorporated lands in the County. County officials say the public should check with the appropriate authorities concerning burning restrictions within the corporate limits of any city or town. Maps detailing the burn ban zone boundaries are available to view and download on the Klickitat County Department of Emergency Management webpage.
Hood River County Commission Approves Parkdale Community Plan
Hood River County Commissioners approved an unincorporated community plan for Parkdale. County Community Development Director Eric Walker noted comparing the plan to requirements existing today, there are not many substantive differences. Most of the discussion before approval centered on short-term rentals. Walker noted the plan prohibits STR’s on parcels with an accessory dwelling unit or duplex, but it does not outright ban them in Parkdale. Commissioner Ed Weathers acknowledged maintaining workforce housing is a priority, but he joined with other commissioners in not wanting to put different restrictions on Parkdale than the other unincorporated areas of the County. There are currently only two registered STR’s operating in Parkdale, but Commission Chair Jennifer Euwer noted they should be thinking about what could happen years from now.
TD City Council Holds Another Water Worksession Wednesday
The Dalles City Council on Wednesday will hold its latest worksession towards putting together a capital improvement plan for the aging municipal water infrastructure. This session includes a discussion of a financial analysis and policy to deal with the city’s water system needs. Mayor Rich Mays says the work that needs to be done is fairly well known, but how to pay for it is the question. $164 million worth of priority projects to be targeted for work within the next ten years have been identified, and another set for the next 50 years have also been developed. Wednesday’s worksession begins at 5:30 p.m. in The Dalles City Hall.
Marine Board Open House In Hood River Wednesday
The Oregon State Marine Board will hold an open house on Wednesday in Hood River for recreational boaters and others interested in the agency’s work. It will run from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Room 1313 in Columbia Gorge Community College in Hood River. A Marine Board spokesperson says the Open House is intended to build relationships with local recreational boaters and hear perspectives on how the agency can improve operations to meet future needs. Staff will be available to answer questions about boating safety, agency policies, plans, regulatory considerations, grants, boating access, revenues and expenditures, safety education, titling and registration, outfitter guides, and the agency’s environmental programs.
Books For Kids Columbia Gorge Trying To Raise $15,000
An organization devoted to putting books in the hands of low-income children in local literacy programs is trying to raise $15,000 by the end of the year. Books for Kids Columbia Gorge focuses on kids up to 18 years old in Hood River, Wasco, Klickitat, and Skamania counties. Books for Kids board chairperson Nancy Paul says getting kids reading is vital to learning. Donations to Books for Kids can be made online at booksforkidscg.org. Donors can choose the county they want their contribution to be focused.
“Pink Friday” Planned For The Dalles
The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce is planning “Pink Friday” on the Friday before Thanksgiving to bring recognition and business to the community’s smaller boutique stores. Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson says those stores can have a hard time competing with the large corporate stores when “Black Friday” arrives the following weekend. Farquharson says a number of stores in downtown The Dalles participated last year. She says usually these stores are staffed by less than five people, and the goal of “Pink Friday” is to get customers into those stores before the big “Black Friday” hubbub the following week.