Lawmakers in Olympia have approved a memorial urging Congress to give states and tribes more flexibility to protect salmon runs from sea lion predation. The memorial from Spokane Valley Republican Representative Rob Chase asks Congress to modernize federal law so states and tribes can better manage sea lions and seals that prey on endangered salmon. Supporters say Washington has invested billions restoring salmon habitat, but recovery efforts are undermined when growing numbers of sea lions consume large numbers of returning fish. Republican Representative Kevin Waters of Stevenson says relocating sea lions has proven ineffective. He notes they just come back. The memorial does not change state law but formally urges Congress to update the Marine Mammal Protection Act to give states and tribes more flexibility to protect salmon runs across Washington waters.
Author: mbailey
January 30-31 Prep Sports Roundup
Boys Basketball
Hood River Valley 62, Milwaukie 48
Fort Vancouver 92, Columbia 47
Castle Rock 50, Stevenson 41
Lyle-Wishram 88, Trout Lake 40
Klickitat-Glenwood at Ione-Arlington
Horizon Christian 52, Sherman 51
Condon 45, Dufur 37
South Wasco 78, Crane 28
South Wasco 74, Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 52
Girls Basketball
Hood River Valley 43, Milwaukie 24
Sherman 52, Horizon Christian 19
Dufur 56, Condon 19
Crane 63, South Wasco 35
South Wasco 45, Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 28
Alpine Skiing
Hood River Valley took five of the top six places in the girls’ portion of a Mt. Hood League Giant Slalom at Mt. Hood Meadows. Rowan McKenna was the individual winner. Jess Aubert finished in the boys’ race for the Eagles.
Boys Wrestling
HRV’s Copeland Louis and Drew Lucas earned second place finishes at the Hood River Invitational. Columbia’s Titus DeHart grabbed a third place finish.
Boys & Girls Wrestling
Jesus Chavez, Adrian Miramontes, and Quinn Brenner grabbed fifth place finishes for The Dalles in the boys’ portion of the Bank of Eastern Oregon Invitational in Heppner, while Marie-Louise McCracken was third at 135 in the girls’ half of the tourney.
January 29 Prep Basketball Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
Estacada 81, The Dalles 72 (OT)
Girls Basketball
The Dalles 44, Estacada 32
Columbia 45, Fort Vancouver 40
Teenager Arrested In Shooting Death; Second Suspect Sought
A Hood River teenager has been taken into custody and a man is still being sought in the shooting death of a 21-year-old man in the area of 1695 Oak Street in Hood River in the early morning hours of January 17. The Hood River Police Department says the 16-year-old male was arrested on Wednesday, and booked and lodged at NORCOR on second degree murder, first degree manslaughter, and other charges in the death of Yahir Castillo-Alvarez of Hood River. Police are also looking for the public’s help in locating a second suspect, 30-year-old Noel Hernandez of Hood River, who is wanted on second degree murder and first degree manslaughter charges. Police advised the public not to approach Hernandez and to contact law enforcement with any information. Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact Hood River Police Department Detective Ben Oka at 541-387-5257, or by email at b.oka@cityofhoodriver.gov.
Strawberry Mountain Boil Water Order Lifted
The boil water order for the Strawberry Mountain pressure zone in White Salmon was lifted Thursday morning. Required water quality testing has been completed, and results confirm the water is safe to use for drinking, cooking, and food preparation. Normal water use may resume. The City of White Salmon says a malfunction in the water system on Tuesday led to service being temporarily disrupted for customers within that zone. Because the Strawberry Mountain reservoir needed to be refilled, water quality testing was required to ensure the water is safe for consumption. Other areas of White Salmon are not impacted. For a detailed list of addresses in the Strawberry Mountain pressure zone, go to whitesalmonwa.gov.
January 28 Prep Sports Roundup
Boys Basketball
Columbia 47, Seton Catholic 45
Boys Wrestling
Hillsboro 60, Hood River Valley 10
Strawberry Mountain Boil Order Continues Through Friday
The boil water order for the Strawberry Mountain pressure zone in White Salmon has been extended through Friday. The City of White Salmon says a malfunction in the water system on Tuesday led to service being temporarily disrupted for customers within that zone. Because the Strawberry Mountain reservoir needed to be refilled, required water quality testing must be completed to ensure the water is safe for consumption. As a precaution, residents in the affected area are advised to boil all water used for drinking, food preparation, and cooking through Friday. Updated test results are expected to be available by 5:00 p.m. Friday. Other areas of White Salmon are not impacted. For a detailed list of addresses in the Strawberry Mountain pressure zone, go to whitesalmonwa.gov.
HR Council To Focus Bond Effort On Housing & Police Station
The Hood River City Council has chosen to focus on housing and a new police station for a possible November bond measure, and embark on a public education and engagement plan in advance of making final decisions in the summer. Urban Renewal Administrator Will Norris told the Council how they educate residents on the two topics might involve different approaches, with the police station ask more straight forward to illustrate than the housing request. The City’s plan is to conduct more polling in the summer after the education and engagement effort, and then determine whether to put the two options in one measure, or perhaps split them up. The working bond measure about for each is $9 million.
The Dalles Council Sets Dog License Fees
The Dalles City Council approved an updated municipal fee schedule this week, and it includes the cost of a dog license included in an ordinance passed last month. Cost for a one-year license will be $35 for unaltered dog, $25 for a dog that has been spayed or neutered, and $15 for altered dogs owned by military members and those over the age of 65. Mayor Rich Mays noted proceeds from the license will go to the Columbia Gorge Humane Society for shelter services. City officials added they support access to low cost spay and neuter services and encourages residents who need financial assistance to utilize the City’s low-cost spay and neuter program.
Point In Time Count Underway
The annual Point In Time count of homeless individuals in Klickitat, Skamania, Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties is on-going this week. The count is required by the federal Housing and Urban Development, and conducted locally by the Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative. Mid-Columbia Community Action is doing the count on the Oregon side of the Gorge, while Washington Gorge Action Programs handles it on the north side of the Columbia River. WAGAP Executive Director Jennifer Pauletto says the count plays a large role in funding decisions. She adds it also helps the Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative to develop policy and goals for housing advocacy in the area.