The City of The Dalles received its audit report for fiscal year 2022-23, and it found no significant issues with the municipal financial picture. Andrew Sherwood of KDP Certified Public Accountants told the City Council the overall audit went smoothly with clean, unmodified opinions. The City once again received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Financial Officers Association.
Author: mbailey
Signal Light Installation In Downtown Hood River Underway
Installation of a traffic light at 2nd and Oak streets in downtown Hood River is now underway. The entire intersection will be closed to vehicle traffic, with detours rerouting vehicles to nearby Cascade, State, 1st, and 3rd Streets. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to continue to travel through the intersection and access businesses despite sidewalk closures – crossing through the middle of the intersection instead. Businesses will remain open and accessible during construction. Construction is scheduled to be completed by Memorial Day.
February 12 Prep Sports Roundup
Boys Basketball
Wilsonville 65, Hood River Valley 39: Kallen Gutridge scored 26 points as the defending 5A champion Wildcats pulled away. Sawyer Clemett scored 12 for HRV.
Lyle-Wishram 51, Trout Lake 49: The Mustangs advance to play at Condon tonight in a Big Sky League playoff game.
Girls Basketball
Wilsonville 85, Hood River Valley 16
Traffic Stop Ends In Narcotics Seizure
A weekend traffic stop in Hood River resulted in the seizure of generous amounts of narcotics. The Hood River Police Department says an officer stopped a vehicle driven by an individual that was known to have suspended driving privileges. The driver exhibited several signs of impairment during the traffic stop. A search of the vehicle yielded over 16 grams of fentanyl, 20 grams of Methamphetamine, and nearly 5 grams of heroin, along with a large amount of cash. The driver was taken into custody on the charges of DUII-Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession and Attempted Distribution of Schedule II-Fentanyl, Unlawful Possession and Attempted Distribution of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of Heroin and Felon in Possession of a restricted weapon.
HR County Creates Grant Writer Position
Hood River County has created a new position to bring a grant writer on board. The County has been dealing with grants in individual departments for years, but County Administrator Allison Williams says it is easier to ensure compliance with terms of federal grants in particular with a dedicated grant writer. County Commission Chair Jennifer Euwer said American Rescue Plan funds will be used to pay for the position for the next two years, and then the hope is the position becomes self-sustaining.
TD Community Action Team Heads To D.C. In Early March
The Dalles Community Action Team will be heading to Washington, D.C. in early March to pitch local projects for federal funding. Port of The Dalles Executive Director Andrea Klaas expects it to be an interesting trip, with the federal government running on a continuing resolution and some programs that have funds available for local projects sunsetting. Projects that will be pitched include the search for more buildable industrial lands, and work on the Port of The Dalles Marina boat ramp and the permits necessary for it.
Mosbrucker’s “Ivan’s Law” Passes Washington House
Ivan’s Law, introduced in the Washington State House by Goldendale Representative Gina Mosbrucker, has won bipartisan approval in that chamber. The bill is named after a 24-year-old Yakama tribal member who took his own life while in jail in Klickitat County. After hearing many stories from citizens on the impact of fentanyl, Mosbrucker says her legislation begins with an educational outreach campaign. Ivan’s Law also would assist hospitals with the cost of fentanyl screening in emergency rooms and promotes effective intervention. The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
Bridge Aesthetics Committee Appointed
The Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Replacement project has appointed 22 members to its new Bridge Aesthetics Committee, which will be responsible for providing ideas and concepts for the look and feel of the new bridge and its amenities. The project recently won a $200-million grant from the federal government and is in the process of selecting a firm to design and build the bridge. Over the next several months, the Bridge Aesthetics Committee will meet to consider details like potential colors, textures and finishes for the bridge, furnishings that include railings, traffic barriers, overlooks, lighting, and benches, artwork and landscaping, and signs. The committee will meet four times and will hold public events to present ideas to the public and gather feedback on the way to developing aesthetic guidance that bridge designers will consult. The committee consists of public agencies and nonprofits with a connection and vested interest in the Columbia River Gorge, as well as community members residing in the area. Its first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., and the public can attend on Zoom by going to hoodriverbridge.org.
Waters Bill To Improve Illegal Cannabis Monitoring Approved In House
Legislation by Washington 17th District Rep. Kevin Waters that would improve detection and prevention of the illegal inversion and diversion of cannabis in and out of Washington is headed to the Senate after receiving unanimous approval from the House. House Bill 2255 would require the Liquor and Cannabis Board to regularly audit the data in the Cannabis Central Reporting System, with a goal of identifying and preventing illegal inversion and diversion of cannabis and cannabis products into and out of Washington’s regulated cannabis system. Waters says currently enforcement is being driven by licensees submitting complaints against each other, and enforcement officers spending too much time on minor infractions. The Stevenson Republican believes this bill would help steer officers to the larger, more serious offenses. If House Bill 2255 were to become law, the LCB could use the data the agency collects to help direct and prioritize enforcement.
February 9-10 Prep Sports Roundup
Swimming
Both Hood River Valley’s boys and girls 200 yard freestyle relay teams grabbed first place finishes at the Northwest Oregon Conference championships, while the Eagles’ Caiden Titus won the boys’ 100 yard freestyle. HRV’s girls earned seven entries to next weekend’s Oregon Class 5A Championships, while the Eagle boys grabbed four. Hood River’s girls were second in the team standings, and the boys finished third.
Boys Wrestling
The Dalles advanced two wrestlers to the state tournament from the Tri-Valley Conference Championships in Prineville, as the Riverhawks finished fifth. Alexander DeLaTorre advanced at 157 pounds as did Alfred Brackenbury at 165, as both finished third in their weight class.
Columbia’s Sawyer Muehlbauer won the 190 pound division at the Southwest Washington Class 1A Regionals in Hoquiam, helping the Bruins to a sixth place finish. Stevenson took ninth, as Kasen Polzel took second at 150.
Goldendale’s Matthew Gray was the 150 pound champion as the Timberwolves finished third at the Washington Class B Region 2 tournament at Tonasket. The Timberwolves also earned three seconds and three thirds.
Girls Wrestling
Hood River Valley’s Natalia Solorio Campos advanced to the state tournament by finishing second at 190 pounds at the Oregon Class 6A/5A tourney at Century.
Stevenson’s Regan Minnis finished third at 140 pounds and Columbia’s Ashley Totolhua was fifth at 105 pounds at the Washington Class 2A/1A/B Region 2 at Centralia
Goldendale’s Brielle Starr was third at 130 pounds at the Washington Class 2A/1A/B Region 3 at Toppenish.
Cheerleading
The Dalles finished second to Baker in the Class 4A Coed Game Day division at the Oregon Class 4A Cheerleading Championships.
Boys Basketball
LaSalle 70, Hood River Valley 53
The Dalles 65, Estacada 34
Klickitat-Glenwood 62, South Wasco 48
Sherman 59, Ione-Arlington 39
Sherman 34, Crosspoint Christian 29
Ione-Arlington 70, Klickitat-Glenwood 55
Trout Lake 57, Lyle-Wishram 48
Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 69, Trout Lake 42
Dufur 53, Horizon Christian 34
Condon 63, Horizon Christian 56
Southwest Washington Class 1A District Boys Basketball
Loser-Out Game
Stevenson 69, Hoquiam 59…The Bulldogs advance to face Elma on Wednesday.
Girls Basketball
LaSalle 56, Hood River Valley 41
The Dalles 50, Estacada 26
Ione-Arlington 46, Sherman 33
Trout Lake 66, Lyle-Wishram 14
Trout Lake 47, Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 36
Dufur 53, Horizon Christian 23
Condon 55, Horizon Christian 5