The Dalles City Council unanimously approved moving forward with the Federal Street Plaza project, including getting a final design to head toward construction. Downtown business owner and a member of the ad-hoc committee working on the plaza, Beth Stelzer, told the Council the plaza will bring a gathering place needed in downtown The Dalles. Estimated cost of the project is $4.7 million, and there is $4.9 million allocated for it in the City’s proposed Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget. The City has $1.435 million in pending grant applications and partnership funding for the plaza.
Author: mbailey
Hood River Council Moves Toward Street Closure Pilot
The Hood River City Council plans to gather a committee to plan a pilot project to close a downtown street for a period of time during the summer to encourage more community gathering in the area. “Downtown open space” was set as a goal by the Council coming into the year. City Councilor Anna Cavaleri said it will be very important to get input from the business community, and Mayor Paul Blackburn echoed that. Councilor Ben Mitchell noted while he is favor of the effort, he wants feedback from people on whether they want the pilot program at all.
House Subcommittee Hears The Dalles Watershed Bill
The House Natural Resources Committee’s subcommittee on Federal Lands this week heard “The Dalles Watershed Development Act.” The legislation by Oregon Second District Congressman Cliff Bentz would transfer ownership of 150 acres of Forest Service land within The Dalles’ municipal watershed adjacent to the City’s reservoir to the City. The City of The Dalles relies on its municipal watershed for 80% of its annual water supply. Bentz says protecting the watershed is essential to maintaining water quality, meeting future demand, and ensuring public safety. The proposed transfer would allow the city to expand the size of its reservoir and to take all necessary action to protect city water infrastructure works and a portion of the city’s watershed. Bentz says he will continue to work with the Natural Resources Committee, House leadership, local leaders, and federal agencies to advance this legislation.
Volunteers Sought For Wasco County Transportation Committee
Volunteers are needed to serve on Wasco County’s public transportation advisory committee. The Wasco County Public Transportation Advisory Committee has several vacancies. The panel considers how transportation funds should be spent and provides County Commissioners and The Link Public Transit with information about their community’s special transportation needs, particularly related to how projects will benefit seniors and people with disabilities. The Advisory Committee represents all members of the community but is particularly focused on those with greater transportation needs such as those who are older, low-income, living in small communities, living with a disability, or other user groups who may rely on public transportation. The Committee positions are voluntary with a two-year term. For more information or to apply, go to mcedd.org.
April 29 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
The Dalles 9, Estacada 5: The Riverhawks stay unbeaten in the Tri-Valley Conference. Cody Agidius went two for three with a double and drove in four runs.
Softball
The Dalles 3, Estacada 1: Siyra Faulkner struck out 12 in throwing a four-hitter as the Riverhawks scored three runs in the sixth inning, including a home run by Maddie Brock.
Track and Field
Goldendale’s boys won a five-school EWAC Meet at Mabton. The Timberwolf girls finished third, as Emma Meaghar won the 800, 1600, and 3200 meters.
Boys Soccer
Columbia 8, Toledo-Winlock 0
Boys Tennis
LaSalle 7, Hood River Valley 1
Girls Tennis
LaSalle 6, Hood River Valley 2
Boys Golf
Hood River Valley finished third in an NWOC Tournament at Arrowhead Golf Club. The Eagles’ John Olsen was sixth with an eight-over-par 79.
Girls Golf
Hood River Valley was fourth in an NWOC tourney at Willamette Valley Country Club in Canby. Kristin Fox was the top HRV finisher in 12th.
Northern Wasco PUD Realigns Power Resources Division
Northern Wasco County PUD says it has realigned its Power Resources Division to address increasing regional growth and prepare for future energy challenges. Northern Wasco PUD Assistant General Manager Kurt Conger says the utility is enhancing its analytical capabilities to better navigate complex regional issues and be more responsive to changing market conditions and customer needs. As part of the realignment, Michael Deen joins Northern Wasco PUD as Manager of Policy and Rates after serving as Policy Director of the Public Power Council since 2013. Jen Kelly has been promoted to Power Operations Manager and Damon Pellicori joined the utility as Power Planning Manager in January. The division expanded its data analytics capabilities with Energy Data Analyst Keith Michaels developing and deploying advanced analytical tools.
Traffic Stop In Hood River Yields Narcotics Stash
A Sunday traffic stop yielded a large amount of methamphetamine and heroin. The Hood River Police Department says the stop was initially made for multiple driving infractions, and the officer then observed several indicators of impairment. After a field sobriety test that led to the female driver of the vehicle being taken into custody, a subsequent search of the vehicle yielded 273 grams of methamphetamine, ten grams of heroin, fentanyl, assorted medications, scales, paraphernalia, packaging materials, and over $1800 in cash. An adult male passenger was taken into custody on various charges and multiple arrest warrants. Hood River Police added a child was present in the vehicle, in close proximity to the narcotics.
Work On ADA Curb Ramps Continues In Hood River
Work continues in Hood River on Americans with Disability Act required improvements to curb ramps. The Oregon Department of Transportation is handling the construction work along Cascade Avenue and then Oak Street all the way through the City to downtown Hood River. City Manager Abigail Elder says ODOT is doing this work as part of the agreement that saw the City take ownership of Oak Street a few years ago. She adds the City may have to do the curb work in some other locations a few years from now, in particular on the Heights. Elder says the work downtown should wrap up by Memorial Day, and the rest of the City to exit 62 by mid-July.
Klickitat County Commission Trying To Focus On Crucial Issues
Klickitat County Commissioners have a list of crucial issues they want to get through in recent weeks. Commissioner Lori Zoller says they have a priority list of five issues they want to undertake and hold workshops on. She notes issues around Dallesport are a central focus. Those include the wastewater treatment plant, water rights for the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport, and the relationship with the City of The Dalles as co-owners of the airport. Short-term rentals are another area Zoller says the panel wants to address. She adds they are tracking the critical area ordinance the County needs to get wrapped up, but also notes the County Planning Department is doing the majority of the work on that.
April 25-26 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Columbia 23, Fort Vancouver 1: Seth White drove in four runs and Ben Borton three as the Bruins scored ten runs in the first inning and cruised to the Trico League win.
Sherman splits with Pilot Rock, losing game one 8-6 but taking game two 6-3: The Rockets scored two runs in the seventh inning to snag the opener, but Cael Bish went three for three with three runs batted in and Leven Whitbeck struck out 12 to lift the Huskies in game two.
Cle Elum-Roslyn swept Goldendale 8-4 and 2-1.
Softball
Goldendale sweeps White Swan 17-7 and 23-3.
Track and Field
Columbia won the girls’ title and Condon took the boys’ competition at the Jeff Agar Memorial Invitational in Trout Lake. Columbia’s Sara Miller won three events in the girls’ portion of the meet while teammate Saylor Hague and Trout Lake’s Violette Anderson won two apiece.
Hood River Valley’s Kai Wagner won the varsity boys 3000 meters at the Nike/Jesuit Relays. Trout Lake’s Sawyer Dean was second and The Dalles’ Julian Morehouse fourth in the boys’ pole vault, while HRV’s Syl Perrin was third in the girls’ 3000 meters.
Boys Soccer
Columbia 1, Seton Catholic 0
Girls Lacrosse
Hood River Valley 17, Camas 5: The Eagles win their tenth in a row in a non-league game.