The Port of Hood River Commission has tabbed Bridge Replacement Project Director Kevin Greenwood to be the Port’s new Executive Director.  Greenwood has previously served as manager of both the Port of Garibaldi and the Port of Newport before signing on to lead the bridge replacement effort in Hood River in 2018.   Greenwood served as President of the Oregon Public Ports Association in 2016 and 2017, and before moving into Port management was the City Manager in Garibaldi.  The Bridge Replacement Project Director role is now filled by Michael Shannon, leading a team from HNTB Corporation which was awarded a Replacement Bridge Management Contract by the Port earlier this year.  Genevieve Scholl, who has been serving as the Interim Executive Director since the retirement of Michael McElwee in July, will return to her prior role as special projects director.

Volleyball</p> Crook County def. The Dalles 19-25, 24-26, 25-15, 25-16, 25-8</p> Hood River Valley def. Milwaukie 25-14, 26-24, 25-20</p> South Wasco def. Klickitat-Glenwood 25-12, 25-15, 25-10</p> Dufur def. Lyle-Wishram 25-20, 18-25, 25-21, 25-6</p> Sherman def. Bickleton 25-14, 25-17, 25-11</p> Goldendale def. White Swan 25-13, 25-12, 25-21</p>   Football</p> South Wasco 44, Prairie City 21</p>   Boys Soccer</p> Horizon Christian 4, Columbia Christian 3</p>   Girls Soccer</p> Elma 3, Columbia 0</p> Goldendale 2, Mabton 1</p>  

Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital frontline nurses are conducting a public informational picket about staffing levels, safety standards and community health Thursday afternoon.  The nurses—represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA)—are being joined by statewide health care leaders, union allies and local community supporters.  Nurses at Providence Hood River have been working without a contract since March.  They want staffing issues addressed along with stronger patient safety standards, improvements to their health insurance and paid leave, and a compensation package the ONA claims is needed to recruit and retain frontline caregivers.  ONA represents more than 4,000 frontline nurses working in 10 Providence Health System facilities from Portland to Medford including nearly 150 nurses working at Providence Hood River.

A recently announced agreement will see Mid-Columbia Community Action take over the lead on operations of the Hood River Warming Shelter this winter.  Hood River Shelter Services will still be involved in volunteer coordination and providing shelter clients access to high-quality food.  Mid-Columbia Community Action Executive Director Kenny LaPoint says they are targeting a November 15 opening date for the 24-bed pallet shelter site on 1733 Oak Street.  LaPoint says Community Action taking the lead on operations will allow for some streamlining of efforts with their shelter site in The Dalles.  

Columbia Gorge Discovery Center will host its fourth annual Columbia River Indian Autumn on Saturday.  The Discovery Center’s Mikey Goyette says admission will be free, with the event featuring artisans, musicians, cultural dancers, storytellers, and vendors from the regional Native American community.  There will also be a salmon bake at 11:30 a.m., with a cost of $20, and tickets for that are available at gorgediscovery.org.

A new fiesta, El Grito, will kick off Hispanic Heritage Month at White Salmon’s Rhinegarten Park on Sunday afternoon.  Washington Gorge Action Programs is helping to put on the event, which will include music and food along with organizations available to share resources.  El Grito translates loosely in English as “The Scream.”  It is celebrated as the battle cry that effectively launched Mexico’s War of Independence.  The phrase comes from a speech Father Miguel Hidalgo delivered to his parish in Dolores, Mexico in September of 1810 to inspire a revolt against colonialism and inequity.

The Oregon State Marine Board will be holding open houses around the state during October, including one in Hood River.  A Marine Board release says the goal is to better understand the needs of boaters around the state, share resources available to boaters, and gather input on the agency’s direction.  Topics to be addressed include boating safety and education, regulations and policies, boating access facilities, marine law enforcement, boat registration fees and the agency budget, and outfitters and guides  The open house in Hood River will on October 10 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm at the Hood River Library.

Trevitt Street between 9^th and 12^th in The Dalles will experience roadway closures while replacement of sewer and storm main lines takes place beginning next week.  Crestline Construction says work on Trevitt will require roadway closures beginning on Monday.  Motorists are advised to look for alternate routes to access Sorosis Park and Colonel Wright Elementary School during the construction work to take place over the next two months.

Boys Soccer The Dalles 3, Sisters 1 Trout Lake 2, Hood River Valley JVII 1   Volleyball South Wasco def. Lyle-Wishram 25-8, 25-7, 25-11

Hood River City Councilors approved allocating just over $2.6 million for construction of long-discussed improvements to the intersection of Rand Road and Cascade Avenue, including signal lights and a realignment of the intersection. The City entered into an agreement with the Oregon Department of Transportation for the project in 2017, and design and right-of-way phases of the project underway for over two years are nearing completion. City Engineer Wade Seaborn says an advertisement for construction bids will go out in late October, with the anticipation of work starting in the spring, but pausing during the summer. The goal would be to complete the project by Memorial Day 2024.