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Author: mbailey

Phase 3 Of Neal Creek Habitat Restoration Planned

Posted on by mbailey

The Hood River Watershed Group and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs are about to embark on phase 3 of their Neal Creek habitat restoration project to benefit threatened winter steelhead and coho salmon.  This phase will be on Hood River County forestland above the “Bridge to Nowhere.”  Alix Danielson of the Hood River Watershed Group told County Commissioners during a presentation on the project that the work will help restore ecological processes in Neal Creek, increase fish habitat, provide more resilience to flooding, and build on what was done in the first two phases.  Danielson indicated they would want a memorandum of understanding from the County.  The project is already funded through a variety of sources, so no County monies will be used.  Design work will start in July, with construction planned for the summer of 2024.

         

Regional Fire Authority Plan To Target November Ballot

Posted on by mbailey

The City of White Salmon and Klickitat County Fire District 3 have decided to target the November election to send a proposed regional fire authority to voters, rather than put it on the August ballot.  White Salmon Mayor Marla Keethler says there just wasn’t enough time for a committee to draft the fire authority plan.  Keethler noted one of the issues to be discussed is the proposed tax rate of 76 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value to operate and maintain the fire authority.  For White Salmon residents that would represent a significant increase in what is dedicated to fire protection currently.  Keethler believes the City has significantly underfunded its fire department for a number of years.

Comprehensive Healthcare Informs Klickitat County It Will Close Sites

Posted on by mbailey

Klickitat County has been notified that Comprehensive Healthcare intends to close its two physical sites for behavioral health care in the county, although no specific date has been set.  Klickitat County Behavioral Health interim director Erinn Quinn says they are currently collaborating with multiple community stakeholders and agencies to identify long term and sustainable solutions to address mental health care in the County as well as exploring options for individuals who may need care in the interim.  A meeting is planned for May 25 at 11 a.m. in the County Services Building at 115 West Court in Goldendale to discuss the county’s current program capabilities, resources, and potential next steps to increase access to mental health services.  The meeting will be available virtually via Zoom.  Klickitat County Behavioral Health currently provides crisis services to Klickitat County residents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year through response to both Skyline and Klickitat Valley Health emergency rooms, Klickitat County Jail, and at all Klickitat County Schools through referrals from its Crisis Line, 1-800-626-9137.

Open Houses On Bridge Replacement And Tolls Planned

Posted on by mbailey

The Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Replacement Project will hold a pair of open houses in late May and early June to provide information on the project and take input to inform future toll pricing.  Officials involved in the bridge project have said increased tolls are necessary to build the new structure.  The Bridge Replacement Bi-State Working Group will present tolling options at the event.  The open houses will be drop-in style where the public can review informational displays, get answers from project staff members, and provide input.  The first open house will be May 31 from 4:30 to 7 at the White Salmon Valley Library, and the second on June 7 from 4:30 to 7 at May Street Elementary School in Hood River.  There will also be an online open house starting May 31 through hoodriverbridge.org.

Inslee Signs Bill Upping Penalty For Negligent Driving Resulting In Death

Posted on by mbailey

Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill on Tuesday that allows judges to hold negligent drivers more accountable.  House Bill 1112, authored by 17th District Rep. Paul Harris, will allow judges, at their discretion, to impose criminal penalties for negligent driving involving the death of a vulnerable victim. It also creates a gross misdemeanor offense of negligent driving with a vulnerable victim in the first degree.  HB 1112 allows judges to find people guilty of an offense when they operate a vehicle in a manner that is both negligent and endangers, or is likely to endanger, any person or property and causes the death of someone using a public way.  Under the new law, a judge can punish an offender with up to 364 days of imprisonment, up to a $5,000 fine, and suspension of driving privileges for 90 days.  The bill is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

HR Schools Wait On Levy Result & State Revenue Forecast

Posted on by mbailey

It’s a big week for the Hood River County School District. with its local option levy on the ballot and the state’s revenue forecast coming out on Wednesday.  District Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says a strong revenue forecast would provide a better chance of the state K-12 funding number for the upcoming biennium going up from $9.9 billion to $10.3 billion.  He says for the Hood River district, that increase would add about $1.5 million in revenue.  Polkinghorn noted the budget work the district has been doing assumes a passage of the local option levy and a state funding figure of $9.9 billion.

 

May 15 Prep Sports Roundup

Posted on by mbailey

Oregon High School Golf Tournaments First Rounds

5A Boys at Emerald Valley in Creswell:  Davis Kerr of Hood River Valley shot a 92 in round one, 20-over-par and 16 shots in back of the leaders, in a tie for 47th.

5A Girls at Quail Valley in Banks:  Sierra Muenzer of Hood River Valley was in 53rd after round one.

4A Boys at Trysting Tree in Corvallis:  The Dalles is in 5th after the first round, 32 shots behind leaders Baker.  Keeler Lawson is tied for eighth, seven shots in back of the lead, after a six-over 77.

4A Girls at Trysting Tree in Corvallis:  Dufur sits in second place, four shots back of leader Crook County.  The Rangers’ Tora Timinsky shot an even-par 71 to hold second place individually, one shot back of leader Esha Reddy of Marist.  Dufur’s Tygh Timinsky is in sixth at 11-over 82.  Katelyn Vassar of The Dalles is in eighth after a 14-over-par 85.

 

Boys Lacrosse

Hood River Valley 16, Ida B. Wells 1

Bonham One Of Three Senators Hitting 10 Unexcused Absences

Posted on by mbailey

Two Republicans and an Independent taking part in a boycott that has stalled hundreds of bills in the Oregon Senate, including measures on abortion and gender-affirming care, were disqualified Monday from reelection under a new constitutional amendment.  One of the trio is 26th District Republican Senator Daniel Bonham.  The GOP-led walkout of the Democrat-dominated Senate has stretched to 10 days.  Each of the three affected senators accumulated 10 unexcused absences, making them ineligible to serve in the Legislature for the period after their terms expire under a ballot measure voters passed overwhelmingly last year.  On Bicoastal Media’s Mid-Columbia Today program on Friday Bonham, whose term has just started and would not face going to the ballot until 2026, said he believed Measure 113 is unconstitutional.  But he also added he was willing to risk his political future over the abortion and gender-affiming health care protection bill he believes is an assault on parental rights because it lacks notification requirements when youth seek such treatments.  The other boycotting senators who reached the 10-day limits for automatic disqualification are Republican Dennis Linthicum and Independent Brian Boquist.  Measure 113 left unclear whether they can run for office as candidates, even though they could not serve.

Parkdale Man Drowns In Hood River Marina Boat Accident

Posted on by mbailey

A 70-year-old Parkdale man drowned in a boating accident at the Hood River Marina on Friday evening.  According to the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, the sailboat Dennis Howe was on was in the process of docking in a slip at the time when he fell from the boat just after 6:45 Friday evening.  When Sheriff’s and Hood River City Police officers responded Howe had not resurfaced, even though multiple bystanders had gone into the water to attempt to find him.  The Skamania County Dive Team was called in to assist in recovery, but darkness fell before that could happen.  Howe’s remains were recovered Saturday morning.  The incident remains under investigation.  Anybody who may have witnessed the incident or have relevant information is asked to contact the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office.

Ballots Due On Tuesday

Posted on by mbailey

Ballots for Oregon’s special districts election must be placed in official dropboxes by 8 p.m. Tuesday or postmarked by Tuesday.  A number of different seats on school boards, port commissions, parks and recreation district boards, and more are on the ballot.  In Hood River County, the school district’s attempt to renew its local option levy is also being voted on.  Official ballot drop boxes in Wasco County are located at the County Courthouse on 511 Washington in The Dalles, city halls in Dufur and Mosier, the Maupin Civic Center, and Three Warriors Market in Simnasho.  In addition, The Dalles Rotary Club will be doing its drive-thru ballot collection Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. outside the Wasco County Courthouse.  In Hood River County ballots can be dropped off at the County Election Office on 601 State in Hood River, Cascade Locks City Hall, and Parkdale Elementary School.

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