John Bowers has been selected as the deputy district ranger for the Barlow and Hood River Ranger Districts on the Mt. Hood National Forest. He will help manage the eastern side of Mt. Hood as the Forest expands its wildfire risk reduction work on national forest lands. Bowers joins the Forest on May 8 and will be based in Parkdale. Bowers has a Master of Science degree from the University of Tennessee in forestry with an emphasis in silviculture. He worked as a research assistant for forest ecology and silviculture projects across the South. Most recently Bowers served as acting deputy district ranger on the Carson Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada.
Author: mbailey
CGCC Residence Hall Occupancy Climbs
Occupancy at Columbia Gorge Community College’s Chinook Residence Hall in The Dalles reached 87 percent of capacity in its second year of operation. CGCC Director of Housing and Student Life Tiffany Prince says it is a dramatic increase after opening in the midst of the pandemic. Prince says they are finding a diverse group of students that are interested in on-campus housing, including those from The Dalles area as well as those from out of the area. The residence hall can house up to fifty people. Those who are interested in on-campus housing can get information on how to apply at cgcc.edu.
Cider Fest Set For Saturday
Hood River’s annual Cider Fest takes place Saturday at its new home at the Waterfront Event Site. Hannah Settje of Visit Hood River says tickets for the event are going fast, with a large lineup of cideries presenting their products there. Cider Fest will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Event Site. Tickets, including a tasting glass and chips redeemable for cider samples, are available at hoodriverciderfest.com.
April 26 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Milwaukie 8, Hood River Valley 6: The Mustangs scored four runs in the sixth inning to grab the win.
The Dalles 20, Crook County 7: Braden Schwartz went four for six with two doubles and a home run to lead the Riverhawks.
Softball
The Dalles 10, Crook County 3: Madalynn Sagapolutele had three hits, a home run, and four runs batted in as the Riverhawks stayed unbeaten in the Tri-Valley Conference.
Canby 10, Hood River Valley 0
Stevenson sweeps Castle Rock 17-2 and 19-3
Track and Field
Stevenson’s Hudson Holzhauer won two events as the Bulldog boys finished third and the girls fourth in a seven-school meet at Stevenson.
South Wasco’s Storm McCoy, Julie Hull, Macy Bell, and Sadie McCoy and Sherman’s Sophie Hulke and Morgan Geary won two events apiece at the South Wasco Invitational.
Boys Tennis
LaSalle 7, Hood River Valley 0
WA Legislature Approves Bridge Monies
Washington’s capital budget bill approved by the Legislature over the weekend includes the release of $75 million in transportation funding specifically to replace the Hood River-White Salmon Bridge. It also calls for an additional $50 million in future funding bringing the Washington total to $125 million on the project. When Governor Jay Inslee signs the bill into law, the bi-state bridge replacement project will draw significantly closer to full funding. Committed funding for the project’s projected total cost of $520 million is now about 35% percent complete. Passage of Oregon’s Senate Bill 431 would commit a further $125 million to the project. Funding from both states, combined with the local commitment through toll backed financing, will position the project to receive up to $200 million in federal grants, fully funding the project. The project’s committed funding is now complete enough for the project team to pursue a contract for design and to fund various kinds of surveying and other data-gathering efforts that precede design and construction. Local officials would like to see the replacement bridge completed and operating in 2029.
Housing Council Breaks Into Five Workgroups
The Governor’s Housing Production Advisory Council has started into the work of developing recommendations in five areas by the end of year. The group of 25 appointed by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek have broken into five work groups dealing with land availability, permit applications, codes and design, workforce shortages, and financing. Mid-Columbia Housing Authority Executive Director Joel Madsen is in the land availability and financing groups, and he says lands already in public ownership can be part of the process. The Governor has set a statewide housing production goal of 36,000 per year, and the Council is charged with developing budget and policy recommendations to meet that goal.
Puppies Rescued From Fire
Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue and Dallesport Murdock Fire District crews rescued a group of puppies from a structure fire at the In-Lieu fishing site behind the Oregon Department of Transportation location in The Dalles on Tuesday morning. According to a statement from MCFR…crews were called to the scene around 11 a.m. Firefighters found a pickup, camper, quad, and a fifth-wheel camper all burning. Engine crews were able to quickly knock down the fire. There were no injuries reported, and a total of five puppies were rescued.
Washington 17th District Lawmakers To Hold Virtual Town Hall
Washington 17th District lawmakers that represent Skamania County, Sen. Lynda Wilson and Representatives Paul Harris and Kevin Waters will hold a virtual town hall meeting next Wednesday, May 3, at 6 p.m. The one-hour meeting held over the Zoom platform will give constituents an opportunity to learn more about the 2023 legislative session, which ended on Sunday. In addition to reviewing some of the bills that passed in the Senate and House of Representatives, and providing an update on their own legislation, the three 17th Legislative District lawmakers also plan to answer attendees’ questions and address their concerns. To register for the town hall, go to one of the legislators’ websites.
April 25 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Hood River Valley 8, Milwaukie 0: Jake vonLubken struck out 11 over six innings, while Jordan McDoal homered and drove in two runs to lead the Eagles to the win.
Seton Catholic sweeps Columbia 10-1 and 12-1
Castle Rock sweeps Stevenson 9-1 and 4-2
Heppner 20, Dufur 4
Sherman 13, Stanfield 1: Kole Martin drove in three runs while Leven Whitbeck knocked home a pair.
Irrigon 4, Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 1
Goldendale 12, LaSalle (Yakima) 3
Softball
Hood River Valley 4, Putnam 3, 8 innings: Grace Rowan homer leading off the bottom of the eighth inning won the game for HRV. Mallory McNerney had two hits and two runs batted in for the Eagles.
Columbia sweeps Seton Catholic 14-2 and 10-0: Macee Barnes went four for four and drove in four runs in the opener, then went for four for four again with two RBI in the nightcap as CHS stayed unbeaten for the season.
Track and Field
Goldendale’s boys won a ten-school meet at Columbia (Burbank). Raymond Holycross won both hurdles races, the long jump, and the triple jump, while Sean Henrikson won the 800 and 1500 meters. Emma Olson led the Timberwolf girls with a second in the long jump and a third in the triple jump.
Boys Tennis
Hood River Valley 8, Putnam 0
Boys Soccer
Seton Catholic 4, Columbia 0
Stevenson 8, Castle Rock 1
Boys Lacrosse
Hood River Valley 12, Liberty 5
Lewis & ESD Working On Fiscal Plan For White Salmon Schools
Acting White Salmon Valley School District Superintendent Jerry Lewis is continuing to work with the Southwest Washington Educational Service District 112 on development of a fiscal plan to help the school district out of its financial deficit. Lewis says they’ve been working on nailing down their exact financial numbers before being able to know the steps that can be taken to make up for a now estimated $2.9 million deficit. The next district board meeting is this Thursday, and Lewis hopes to be able to present a projected budget for the upcoming school year.