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.
Author: mbailey
“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.
October 21 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Volleyball
Wilsonville def. Hood River Valley 25-17, 25-11, 25-9
Boys Soccer
Trout Lake-Glenwood 4, Faith Bible 2
Livingstone Adventist Academy 6, Horizon Christian 1
Girls Soccer
Banks 3, Trout Lake-Glenwood 0
Bridge Estimate Sees Large Increase; More Federal Funds Sought
The price tag for a new Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge has gone up substantially, leading Bridge Authority commissioners to authorize increase its request for funding from the federal Bridge Investment Program. The latest cost estimate for a new bridge is $1.12 billion, well up from the $520 million estimate generated in October 2021. Bridge Authority board and Port of Hood River Commissioner Mike Fox told Port Commissioners at their most recent meeting that one big reason for the increase is sharp inflation in the heavy highway construction sector, about 51 percent over the last three years. Additionally, geotechnical site evaluations conducted earlier this year in the Columbia River revealed deeper-than-expected bedrock, which will require foundations on the new bridge to be around 90 feet deeper than originally planned. The Bridge Authority authorized a $532 million request to the federal Bridge Investment Program. A successful grant, in addition to funds already raised and outstanding targeted commitments, would secure a total of $1.12 billion in project funding.
The Dalles Chamber Taking Entries
The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce is now taking entries for both the Veterans Day Parade on November 11 and the Starlight Parade on November 29. Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson says they are encouraging everyone to take part in both events. Applications are available at thedalleschamber.com or at the Chamber office on 404 West 2nd Street. Farquharson adds they have put in a request for a flyover from the military during the Veterans Day parade. The holiday Starlight Parade has a theme of “Toyland on Parade” this year.
The Dalles Public Works Cleaning Downtown Catch Basins
The Dalles Public Works crews will be cleaning storm water catch basins in the Downtown Area at night throughout the week. Cleaning catch basins allows for fast drainage into the storm water conveyance system. Crews are scheduled to work on First, Second, Third and Fourth Streets from the west side of Lincoln Street to the east side roundabout. Work will occur between 9:00 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. each night. The overnight schedule will cause the least disruption to traffic and businesses. The City is asking that cars are parked so the catch basins are accessible during the night work hours. Temporary traffic controls will not be used during these low traffic hours. Please stay well clear of the vacuum truck when the truck lights are flashing. Basins on W. 6th Street from Cherry Heights Road through W 3rd Place are scheduled to be cleaned shortly this week each day after 7:00 a.m., with traffic controls in place.
October 18-19 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Football
Hood River Valley 20, LaSalle 3: The Eagles limited LaSalle to 69 yards rushing and only four first downs.
The Dalles 34, Parkrose 29
LaCenter 58, Stevenson 6
Sherman 44, Perrydale 12: Jayden Harvins ran for 129 yards and two touchdowns, and Blake Carnine caught two TD passes and had a pair of sacks.
Dufur 44, Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 0: Nolan Cates scored touchdowns rushing, receiving, and on a kickoff return, while Scott Graham ran for 133 yards on 10 carries.
South Wasco 32, Prairie City 28: Storm McCoy threw a 27-yard TD pass to Gavin Hagan with one second left to win the game for the Redsides.
Goldendale 41, Cle Elum-Roslyn 6
Volleyball
Sherman def. Trout Lake-Klickitat-Glenwood 25-27, 25-15, 25-17, 25-11
Sherman def. South Wasco 28-26, 25-10, 25-20
Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler def. Trout Lake-Klickitat-Glenwood 25-19, 25-20, 25-21
South Wasco def. Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 25-21, 25-16, 25-15
Lyle-Wishram def. Condon 25-17, 26-24, 25-7
Lyle-Wishram def. Bickleton 3-1
Dufur def. Bickelton 25-12, 25-12, 26-24
Dufur def. Condon 25-22, 25-9, 25-13
October 17 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Boys Soccer
Hood River Valley 5, Parkrose 3
The Dalles 2, Gladstone 1
Portland Christian 6, Horizon Christian 0
Girls Soccer
The Dalles 5, Gladstone 0: The Riverhawks clinched the Tri-Valley Conference championship with the win.
Hood River Valley 2, Parkrose 0
Columbia 4, Fort Vancouver 1
Trout Lake-Glenwood 7, Corbett 0
Volleyball
Canby def. Hood River Valley 25-5, 25-17, 20-25, 25-21
LaSalle def. Hood River Valley 23-25, 25-12, 25-17, 25-16
The Dalles def. Estacada 25-21, 25-18, 22-25, 23-25, 15-10
Columbia def. Fort Vancouver 3-0
LaCenter def. Stevenson 3-1
Dufur def. Trout Lake-Klickitat-Glenwood 25-17, 25-11, 25-10
Lyle-Wishram def. Horizon Christian 3-1
Goldendale def. Highland 3-1
Cross Country
Goldendale won the girls half and finished second to Cle Elum-Roslyn in the boys’ half of a nine-school cross country meet at home. Emma Meagher led a group of four Timberwolf runners in the top five of the girls race, trailing only individual winner Melody Stock of Trout Lake. Malachi Lawson was top runner for the Timberwolf boys, taking sixth.
Top of the World Fire At 70% Containment
Containment of the Top of the World Fire west of the Catherine Creek recreation area between Bingen and Lyle was increased on Thursday to 70 percent. According to a Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area spokesperson, firefighters continued suppression efforts and are working to mop-up the 171 acre fire. People are asked to avoid the area surrounding the Catherine Creek trail system as the trailhead is serving as the command post for the fire and firefighters are actively working in the area. Smoke will remain visible from Washington State Route 14 and Interstate 84. The NSA says a formal review of the circumstances that led a prescribed burn on Monday to escape and ignite this wildfire will begin in the coming weeks. All declared escaped prescribed fires undergo a formal review. Strong, gusty, and erratic winds on Monday afternoon led to increased fire activity resulting in numerous spot fires outside the burn unit.
Wasco County To Ask ODOT To Investigate Speed Limit Reductions
Wasco County will ask the Oregon Department of Transportation to investigate reducing the speed limits for Highway 197 between The Dalles and Dufur, and the Sherar’s Bridge portion of Highway 216. The speed limits were increased by the Oregon Legislature on 197 from 55 miles per hour to 65 and on 216 from 45 to 55 during the 2017 session. County Commission Chair Steve Kramer said there have been five fatalities on 197 between The Dalles and Dufur since the limits were increased. County Public Works Director Arthur Smith said the County has to make a request for the speed investigation, as ODOT is not allowed by law to do it on their own. He said ODOT would look at the request, and then determine if there is enough justification to move forward.