Enrollment in the White Salmon Valley School District is essentially flat from last year, but up by 20 students from what was projected heading into this school year. Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says they projected 1,042 students, but as of Friday were at 1,062. Polkinghorn says the jump is concentrated on the freshman class at Columbia High School, which had 15 more students than expected. Polkinghorn adds they don’t have a specific reason why they saw the new 9th graders. He does say at school the size of Columbia, adding 15 new students in one grade does bring challenges for staff to keep class sizes where they want to.
Author: mbailey
WAGAP To Schedule LIEAP Appointments Beginning October 1
Washington Gorge Action Programs will begin taking calls to schedule appointments for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program in Skamania and Klickitat counties on October 1 at 8 a.m. The program is provided by the Washington State Department of Commerce. It covers all types of heating, including propane, electric, gas, oil, coal, and wood. To qualify for this program, a participant household’s average monthly income must be at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level. For those needing energy assistance in Skamania County, call 509-427-8229 starting October 1 to be put on the appointment waiting list. For those in Klickitat County, contact the Energy Assistance Program starting October 1 at 509-493-2662 or 800-755-1192, extension 202. The phone lines begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. on October 1. Any calls received before that time will not be accepted for the appointment waiting list.
Pinchot Forest Recinds Public Use Fire Restrictions
With increasingly cooler weather, and recent precipitation across the Northwest, fire managers for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest have rescinded public use fire restrictions. Campfires are now allowed outside of designated, developed campgrounds across the Pinchot forest. The public is reminded to use existing fire rings for campfires wherever possible, and to always bring a shovel and extra water to ensure the fire is out and cold to the touch when you leave. Pinchot officials are encouraging visitors to stay informed on the latest fire information and observe emergency closure areas as conditions can change quickly.
September 18 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Volleyball
Trout Lake-Glenwood def. Horizon Christian 25-5, 25-19, 25-9
September 17 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Volleyball
Seton Catholic def. Columbia 3-1
Castle Rock def. Stevenson 3-0
Ione def. Sherman 27-25, 25-10, 26-24
South Wasco def. Lyle-Wishram 25-7, 25-17, 25-16
Heppner def. Dufur 25-17, 21-25, 25-12, 25-13
Boys Soccer
Gresham 0, Hood River Valley 0
The Dalles 6, Tillamook 2
Girls Soccer
Hood River Valley 1, Gresham 1
LaGrande 1, The Dalles 0
Seton Catholic 7, Columbia 1
Castle Rock 1, Stevenson 1
Trout Lake-Glenwood 2, Portland Christian 0
Man Sought After Being Charged With Starting Larch Creek Fire
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a man accused of starting the Larch Creek Fire in July. The Wasco County District Attorney’s office says 51-year-old Christopher Mennealy was scheduled to appear for arraignment on a Grand Jury indictment on Monday morning, but did not show, leading to the arrest warrant. He is currently at large. Mennealy was indicted by the Grand Jury earlier this month for second degree arson and reckless burning. He’s accused of starting the Larch Creek Fire near Friend on July 9. District Attorney Matthew Ellis says Mennealy was squatting on another person’s property when the fire began. Within ten days, the fire burned an estimated 18,286 acres, with suppression costs totaling over $14 million.
Found Remains Believed To Be Those Of Man Missing For Two Years
The remains of a man reported missing nearly two years ago in the McClellan Meadows area within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest are believed to have been found. The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office says a search mission on Saturday for 69-year-old John Hopkins of Seattle, who was reported as a missing person in November of 2022, recovered human remains believed to be Hopkins. The Sheriff’s Office says the remains will be sent out for forensic DNA analysis to confirm the remains are those of Hopkins. Back in November 2022, Hopkins’ rented vehicle was located in the McClellan Meadows Sno-Park parking area, but Hopkins was not located. In 2023, hunters located belongings believed to associated with Hopkins about one-and-a-half miles from where the vehicle was found, but no human remains were located at the time. Volunteers from both the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team and Silver Star Rescue Team took part in Saturday’s search.
Klickitat County Makes Offer To Fill Jail Administrator Position
Klickitat County Commissioners announced on Monday they have selected someone it is offering the job of jail administrator. The position is being established as Commissioners create a separate department under which the jail will operate, rather than under the Sheriff’s Office. In a brief statement on Monday afternoon, the County said Commissioners had unanimously voted to extend a conditional offer of employment to what it called a “highly qualified” applicant for the jail administrator position. The statement said the Commission will release more information once the post-offer hiring process is completed. The Commission holds its regular meeting on Tuesday in Goldendale.
Agencies Work To Coordinate Wildfire Preparedness
The Hood River Forest Collaborative and the Oregon Department of Forestry is working with land management agencies and other partners to develop a coordinated approach to wildfire preparedness and hazardous fuels reduction. The collaborative’s Andrew Spaeth told Hood River County Commissioners the group is being referred to as the Hood River All-Lands Partnership. He notes part of the motivation for the partnership is to be able to influence on-going fire prevention planning efforts on the federal, state, and local level. Spaeth says last month the partnership submitted a proposal to receive $8 million from a federal program to help fund wildfire prevention efforts. In other business, the Commission unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance to adopt the Parkdale Community Plan, with a public hearing scheduled for October 21 at 6 p.m.
Goldendale Couple Found Dead In Their Home
A Goldendale couple was found dead in their home on Friday. Klickitat County Sheriff Bob Songer says the bodies of 43-year-old David Payne and 42-year-old Elizabeth Payne were found inside their home on Highway 142 by a neighbor who had gone to their home to visit. An initial investigation found that David Payne committed suicide with a firearm. Songer says Elizabeth Payne’s cause of death is still under investigation at this time.