The Hood River City Council approved having City Manager Abigail Elder issue a declaration of emergency due to Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the community. Councilors also asked Elder to prepare information on declaring Hood River to be a sanctuary city, and what can be done to provide more public resources to deal with ICE activities. The emergency declaration will allow for the City to provide financial resources to community partners working with immigrant families. Councilor Gladys Rivera said the City has a responsibility to attempt to uphold the rule of law, and needs to develop a tool kit to respond. Mayor Paul Blackburn did express concern about making Hood River a sanctuary city, noting it could bring more attention from the federal government. Elder said she would present more information on that topic and other potential actions at the Council’s next meeting on January 5.
Author: mbailey
December 8 Prep Basketball Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
Lyle-Wishram 64, Dufur 51
Columbia 69, Hudson’s Bay 47: The Bruins won for the first time this year in four tries, thanks in large part to a 22-9 surge in the third quarter.
MCCFL Looks For Space For Behavioral Health Resolution Center
The Mid-Columbia Center for Living has pivoted to looking for existing commercial space in The Dalles for a long-discussed behavioral health resolution center rather than looking to develop a larger facility on land owned by Wasco County. The effort to put together the resolution center has met with numerous financial and regulatory hurdles, but MCCFL Executive Director Al Barton says the Oregon Health Authority is still interested in funding the project. He says they have to find the right size for the project: large enough to be financially viable but small enough to be manageable. Barton says there would still be hurdles, most notably staffing such a center.
HRPD Takes Driver Into Custody On DUII Charges
A driver was taken into custody on DUII charges after driving recklessly and endangering pedestrians on the Heights in Hood River on Friday night. According to the Hood River Police Department, several individuals at the intersection of State and 9th flagged down an Officer at around 10 p.m. Friday night and reported a reckless driver had nearly struck them in the crosswalk. The pedestrians described the vehicle as a gray pickup truck traveling south towards Children’s Park. A few minutes later, dispatch received a call reporting a reckless driver nearly hitting two pedestrians at 9th and State, with the callers stating they had followed the suspect vehicle until it pulled into the Hood River ER parking lot. The driver was subsequently taken into custody by police for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. Hood River Police are looking for the two pedestrians who were nearly struck or others who have information regarding this incident. They should contact the Hood River Police Department non-emergency number at 541-386-2711 and request to speak with Sgt. Rivera to provide a statement.
East 10th Sewer Work Rescheduled To This Week
Due to challenging site conditions, work on E 10th St. between Quinton St. and Roberts St. in The Dalles to replace and upgrade a stormwater sewer main was rescheduled to this week. The Dalles Public Works project is part of the ongoing work on E 9th St. and Quinton St. A westbound lane closure on E 10th St. between Quinton St. and Roberts St. will remain in place for three days this week. Full street closures on E 9th St. from Oregon St. to E 10th St. will remain in place. Motor vehicles and bicyclists will be detoured to adjacent side streets. Pedestrian and sidewalk access will remain open through the duration of this work. Work hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on each scheduled work day. But the trench must remain open until work is complete.
December 5-6 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
Hood River Valley 61, McDaniel 52
Summit 70, Hood River Valley 52
Crook County 62, The Dalles 29
The Dalles 75, Bend 69
Heritage 56, Columbia 54
Horizon Christian 44, Damascus Christian 37
Open Door Christian 63, Horizon Christian 22
Prairie City 60, Sherman 26
Sherman 58, Pine Eagle 49
South Wasco 66, C.S. Lewis Academy 29
Crosshill Christian 54, South Wasco 50
C.S. Lewis Academy 42, Dufur 32
Pacific 55, Trout Lake 35
Grand View Christian Academy 63, Trout Lake 31
Klickitat-Glenwood 51, Mannahouse Christian 43
Girls Basketball
Hood River Valley 44, King’s Way Christian 32
Cleveland 61, Hood River Valley 36
Bend 55, The Dalles 42
Redmond 88, The Dalles 24
Cleveland 67. Columbia 28
Columbia 41, King’s Way Christian 32
Horizon Christian 45, Damascus Christian 36
Horizon Christian 44, Open Door Christian 37
Dufur 50, C.S. Lewis Academy 37
Prairie City 45, Sherman 23
Sherman 51, Elkton 17
C.S. Lewis Academy 44. South Wasco 35
Crosshill Christian 63, South Wasco 47
Trout Lake 52, Pacific 14
Trout Lake 32, Mapleton 30
Girls Wrestling
Hood River Valley’s Valeria Solano Campos won three straight matches to take first at 170 pounds at the Jaguar Classic at Century High School in Hillsboro. She defeated teammate Xiomara Gordian-Gomez in the final.
Ivy Arguello, Amery Linker, and Marie-Louise McCracken all had third place finishes for The Dalles at the Ranger Classic in Estacada.
Boys Wrestling
Hood River Valley’s Leyton Adams won four out of five matches to finish second at 144 pounds at the Tyrone Woods Invitational in Oregon City. The Eagles finished ninth in the 19-school tournament.
The Dalles’ Alfred Brackenbury won three out of four matches for a second place finish at 190 pounds at the Ranger Classic in Estacada, as the Riverhawks finished ninth in the team standings.
Governor Approves Carriger Solar Project
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson on Thursday announced his approval of the controversial Carriger Solar project in Klickitat County near Goldendale. Ferguson called the project a win for the state, saying building more clean energy provides affordable, carbon-free electricity, creates construction jobs, boosts economic development and keeps the air clean. The Governor had directed the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council to further engage with the Yakama Nation on the project, and while a tribal member of EFSEC was the lone no vote on the project from that panel, Ferguson found EFSEC met their legal obligation. He did add that EFSEC must improve its engagement with Tribal Nations according to best practices going forward. The Carriger Solar project adds 160 megawatts of solar energy and 63 megawatts of battery energy storage resources to Washington’s grid. According to project developer Cypress Creek Renewables that would power up to 32,500 homes. Construction on the project must start by July 4, 2026, to qualify for federal clean energy tax credits, which are needed for the project to remain financially viable.
December 4 Prep Basketball Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
Scappoose 80, The Dalles 72 (OT)
Lyle-Wishram 52, Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 35
Enterprise 61, Sherman 26
Goldendale 73, Stevenson 67
Girls Basketball
Crook County 55, The Dalles 30
Enterprise 60, Sherman 21
Trout Lake 66, Willamette Valley Christian 21
Goldendale 58, Stevenson 19
December 3 Prep Basketball Scores
Boys Basketball
Klickitat-Glenwood 62, Lyle-Wishram 57
South Wasco 72, Echo 31
Girls Basketball
Echo 56, South Wasco 16
Cox Named Explore The Dalles Tourism Director
The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce has named Lynn Cox as Tourism Director for Explore The Dalles. Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson says Cox brings over two decades of leadership experience in destination marketing, community engagement, and customer experience design, most recently with Intel Corporation’s Sales and Marketing Group. In her new role, Cox will lead destination marketing efforts, manage strategic partnerships, and oversee the promotion of The Dalles as a premier travel and recreation hub in the Pacific Northwest. As Tourism Director, Cox will lead campaigns highlighting local attractions, dining, lodging, and outdoor recreation, while strengthening partnerships with businesses and regional tourism organizations.