There will be a commemoration of National POW/MIA Recognition Day on Friday at the Kelly Viewpoint across from Sorosis Park in The Dalles. It will begin at 6 p.m. More than 81,000 service members still remain unaccounted for from Conflicts dating back to World War II. According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, 71,981 service members are missing from WWII, 7,444 are missing from the Korean War, 1,573 are missing from the Vietnam War and 126 are missing from the Cold War. There are additional numbers from Iraq, Persian Gulf, Libya, Afghanistan, and other locations. The local service is sponsored by American Legion Post 19 and the Mid-Columbia Veterans Memorial Committee.
Author: mbailey
NSA Plan Amendment For Fire Rebuilds To Be Published
An amendment to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area management plan that would streamline the permitting process to allow those whose lost their homes to fire this summer to rebuild is expected to be posted for public review early next week. Wasco County Community Development Director Kelly Howsley-Glover says if the amendment is published Monday, there will then be a 30-day comment period, then the Columbia River Gorge Commission will hold a public hearing on November 12. The goal is to have the amendment ready to go in late winter or early spring. But Howsley-Glover pointed out it’s hard to pinpoint when the Secretary of Agriculture would sign off on the amendment when it gets to that point.
September 18 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Football
Dayville 70, South Wasco 8
Volleyball
Hood River Valley def. Milwaukie 25-22, 26-24, 25-11
LaCenter def. Columbia 25-21, 20-25, 25-15, 25-16
Kalama def. Stevenson 25-15, 25-12, 25-11
Dufur def. Trout Lake-Glenwood 25-21, 25-9, 25-5
South Wasco def. Horizon Christian 25-9, 26-24, 25-9
Sherman def. Bickleton 25-18, 25-16, 25-11
Boys Soccer
Hood River Valley 3, Glencoe 1
The Dalles 2, Seaside 2
Grand View Christian Academy 3, Trout Lake-Glenwood 2
Girls Soccer
Hood River Valley 8, St. Helens 0
LaCenter 7, Columbia 0
Kalama 4, Stevenson 0
Coplin Named New Providence Hood River Chief Administrator
Providence Health Services has announced that Rebecca Coplin will be the new chief administrator at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital. Coplin has been in the same role at Providence Seaside Hospital since 2021, and has been with Providence for 23 years. Prior to being in Seaside, Coplin was executive director of clinical programs and institutes for Providence Oregon, and before that worked in strategic management services. Coplin’s background includes a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology and chemistry from the University of Delaware and a master’s degree in health care administration from Washington University in St. Louis. Coplin will start at Providence Hood River on October 20.
Hood River Pool Option Survey Available
After an open house and an initial community survey, the Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District is continuing its swimming pool options study to evaluate the future of the aging Hood River Aquatic Center. An online survey at hoodriverparksandrec.org include details on three different pool design concepts, including estimated costs and an opportunity to provide feedback. One would involve renovation of the existing pools and replacement of the pool house. A second concept is a full replacement of the pool with a new layout and updated features, maintaining the same square footage as the first concept. And the third option is full replacement with a slightly larger facility and a different layout, designed to support future growth in community use and programming. The survey is at hoodriverparksandrec.org through September 28.
MCFR Kept Busy By Two Fires
Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue crews had a busy Wednesday afternoon and evening. First, at around 4 p.m., crews responded to a four-acre fire near milepost 79 on Interstate 84, joined by resources from the Oregon Department of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service. While that was going on, another fire was reported at 7:11 p.m. in the median of the freeway at milepost 92. It was about one to two acres in size, with MCFR joined by the Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon State Police, and the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office. Both fires were controlled and in mop-up by the late evening. Fire officials say it may seem like we are close to fall, but conditions in the Gorge remain very dry and fire season is still active.
Recreation Salmon Fishing Extended To Sunday
Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington added more recreational salmon fishing days in the mainstem Columbia River during a joint-state hearing Wednesday. The decision came after fishery managers assessed Chinook harvest in the fall season fisheries and considered the current in-season abundance expectations for upriver salmon stocks. From Warrior Rock to the Hwy 395 Bridge at Pasco, Chinook and coho retention will remain open through Sunday with a daily adult bag limit of two salmon, either Chiniook or coho, but only one may be a Chinook. Wild coho caught downstream of the Hood River Bridge must be released. Anglers should note that for all of the areas upstream of the west Puget Island line listed above, retention of coho is expected to reopen on October. 1 and remain open through the end of the year. Hatchery steelhead fishing will also be open on the mainstem Columbia downstream of The Dalles Dam from November 1 to December 31.
September 17 Prep Sports Roundup
Girls Soccer
The Dalles 2, LaGrande 1
Cross Country
Hood River Valley had five of the top six placers as the Eagle boys cruised to a Northwest Oregon Conference win over Wilsonville, Milwaukie, and Parkrose at Champoeg State Park. Victor Coffman and Andres Moretti finished one-two for the Eagles. In the girls’ race, HRV’s Isabel Ulland finished seventh as the Eagles finished second to Wilsonville.
Volleyball
South Wasco def. Bickleton 25-16, 25-13, 25-7
White Salmon Schools Continues Process Toward A K-12 Facility
The White Salmon Valley School District is about to enter into a public input phase to discuss a long-range planning committee recommendation to construct a K-12 facility at the current intermediate, middle, and high school campus to replace the aging Whitson Elementary School. District Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says at a recent worksession, the district received a preliminary cost estimate for the project of $108 million, of which $30 million would come from a state grant. Polkinghorn says the district board will be grappling with how they want to proceed over the next couple of months. Polkinghorn added the district has been shooting for putting a proposal on the February 2026 ballot.
Homebuyer Fair Set For September 25
The Mid-Columbia Association of Realtors will host its Gorge Homebuyer Fair for the second year in a row next week at the Hood River Armory. Alejandra Calderon of Jen Dillard Real Estate says the event is designed to encourage homeownership across the Gorge region by connecting residents with education, resources, and local experts. All educational materials will be available in both Spanish and English. The event is free and open to the public. It will take place September 25, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Hood River Armory.