Fundraising for the latest stage of improvements to Sorosis Park is underway. Northern Wasco County Parks and Recreation District director Scott Baker says they are seeking to raise $347,000 to finish landscaping, upgrade the walking path, and build a new pavilion. Baker says they have already received some large anonymous donations to give them $165,000 for the project at this point. To donate…go to nwprd.org. Donations will also be taken at Sorosis Park on Thursday from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturday at The Dalles Farmers Market.
Author: mbailey
Pride Alliance Observing Pride Month
The Columbia Gorge Pride Alliance is celebrating Pride Month in June with a number of events in the Mid-Columbia. The Alliance’s Nik Portella says the organization’s efforts are focused on making those in the LGBTQ+ community feel as much a part of the Gorge as anyone else. A list of Pride month events is available on the Alliance’s Instagram page, which is cgpridealliance. The Columbia Gorge Pride Alliance is a part of The Next Door.
Westside Urban Renewal Survey Open Thru Friday
The City of Hood River has is keeping its Westside Urban Renewal District information session survey open until midnight on Friday. A recording of the session outlining plans for establishing the district and the survey are now available at cityofhoodriver.gov. They are also available in Spanish. The session gave some details of the City’s plans to create a new urban renewal district on the west side of Hood River, with the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed projects. A timeline from City officials aims to get the Westside district established by the end of summer.
Kayaker Missing After Falling Into Klickitat River
Search crews over the weekend were unable to locate a woman who had fallen out of her kayak and went over the low head dam on the Klickitat River near the Glenwood Fish Hatchery. Klickitat County Search and Rescue teams searched the banks and along with raft and kayak teams floated the river from the fish hatchery to Leidle Park both Saturday and Sunday before the search was suspended. The Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office identified the missing woman as 29-year-old Sandhya Sridhar. At the time of her disappearance she was wearing a pink-hooded sweatshirt and gray yoga-style hiking pants. The Sheriff’s Office says she was not wearing a life jacket when she fell out of her kayak. The Sheriff’s Office added the Klickitat River is running swiftly at this time of year with snow runoff, and the steep terrain posed serious safety concerns for search teams.
YouthThink Conducting Community Youth Assessment
YouthThink is in the midst of a community youth assessment in The Dalles. YouthThink executive director Debby Jones says they’ve hired an outside contractor to meet with several different groups of youth to find out what it’s like for them to live in The Dalles. She says responses so far have been interesting, including a perception that it is difficult to find things to do. Jones said many respondents indicated that they know they spend too much time on social media, but don’t necessarily know how to stop. Jones says a report on the assessment will be put together and presented to the public later this summer.
Pitch Fest Picks Finalists
The Wasco County Innovation Initiative has picked six finalists for the first Gorge Pitch Fest coming up next week. The six are receiving training on giving an effective pitch for funding, which they will do before a panel of judges next week. Carrie Pipinich of Mid-Columbia Economic Development District says the six entrepreneurs chosen from 28 entities represent a range of different business opportunities. The chosen group will give pitches to a panel of four judges next Wednesday, June 14, at 5:30 p.m. at the Granada Theater in The Dalles, with the grand prize winner receiving $7,000. Tickets to attend Gorge Pitch Fest are free, just go to mcedd.org to register.
White Salmon Asks For Water Conservation
White Salmon residents are being asked to conserve water. Municipal public works director Andrew Dirks says the conservation notice comes as the City’s slow sand filter plant is off-line after a scraping of filter bays there. The plant can’t be put back online until the results of water sample tests are received from the Washington Department of Health. Dirks says their two water wells are running, but the faster than expected warming of temperatures led to the City’s reservoirs not being as full as normal as the wells try to keep up with demand. White Salmon residents are being asked to hold back on using water for irrigation and other outdoor uses for the time being. Dirks says they hope to have the sample test results later today or tomorrow, and will put the sand filter plant back on line when they receive them.
Polkinghorn To Become White Salmon Schools Superintendent
Rich Polkinghorn is leaving his position as Hood River County School District Superintendent to take the same job with the White Salmon Valley School District. Polkinghorn has been in the Hood River district for 17 years as a teacher, coach, building administrator, and finally as superintendent the last three years. Polkinghorn and his family reside in White Salmon, and three of his four children are enrolled in that school district. He said the opportunity to align his personal and family values with his professional aspirations was an opportunity he needed to take. Polkinghorn will work with the Hood River County School District board of directors to determine his last day on the job in the Hood River district. The Hood River district board will discuss the process for hiring a new superintendent during their meeting this Wednesday.
Expect Delays On Highway 141 Next Couple Of Weeks
The Washington State Department of Transportation says people who travel through White Salmon and Bingen using Highway 141 should expect delays for the next couple of weeks. Beginning Monday, state road crews are using alternating single lane closures for pavement repair work. Travelers between White Salmon and Bingen will alternate intermittently through a single lane, with flaggers, daily from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through June 15. Travelers will follow a pilot car through the work zone and should expect delays of up to 20 minutes when flaggers are present. Residents in the area are advised that intermittent flashing lights and construction noise may be heard during the repairs.
Newhouse Introduces Bill To Preserve Gas Stove Access
Washington Fourth District Rep. Dan Newhouse introduced legislation to prohibit the Department of Energy from finalizing a proposed rule that would limit consumer access to gas kitchen ranges or ovens. The Sunnyside Republican co-sponsored H.R. 1615, the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act, which prohibits the Consumer Product Safety Commission from using federal funds to regulate gas stoves as a banned hazardous product, or issue or enforce a product safety standard that prohibits the use or sale of gas stoves or substantially increases their price. In February, the Department of Energy proposed an “energy efficiency standard” for gas cooking products, including an energy performance standard for residential cooktops. The House is expected to vote on this legislation this week.