Girls Basketball

Hood River Valley 48, Aloha 46: The Eagles snapped a four-game losing streak with the non-league road victory.

Castle Rock 36, Columbia 27

South Wasco 62, Lyle-Wishram 27

Boys Basketball

South Wasco 70, Lyle-Wishram 22

A burglary suspect who barricaded himself in a Hood River motel room came out on his own accord early Wednesday evening after a little over four hours.  The Hood River Police Department said he came out prior to 7 p.m.  The incident began just after 2 p.m. at the motel on 2429 Cascade Avenue.   Police say the man is 26-years-old…and is the suspect in a recent burglary.  Police closed Cascade Avenue between Rand Road and 20^th Street while they negotiated with the man.  A regional tactical team was brought in to assist Hood River Police and County Sheriff’s officers.  Police said the man was being evaluated by a medical team after being taken into custody.

The Hood River County Commission voted to move forward this spring with a fee parking permit program for County forestland trailheads, but left open the possibility of adding Lower Post Canyon to the list of locations that would be involved.  It was not one of the original six locations included in a resolution for the program, but Commissioners will discuss it further in February.  County Administrator Jeff Hecksel says there is a legalization process that would be needed to add Lower Post Canyon to the fee program.  Post Flats, Seven Streams, Family Man, Binns Hill, Kingsley Reservoir, and Pinemont will be part of the program.  An annual parking fee will be $30, with proceeds to be used to maintain the forestland trail system.  In other business, County Commissioners approved moving a proposed revision to Commission district boundaries to a February 1 hearing.

A North Central Public Health District official told Wasco County Commissioners Wednesday that COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots are available, but the public is not coming out to get them.  District Clinical Programs Supervisor Martha McInnes says Wasco County is 28th out of 36 Oregon counties for those eligible to receive a booster shot at about 37 percent.  She adds the district is trying to figure out the best way to get the message out that booster shots are important, noting they are very effective at keeping people out of the hospital, which is vital to support a health care system under a tremendous strain.  NCPHD holds a vaccination clinic every Thursday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center, go to ncphd.org for appointment information.

A bill introduced in the Oregon Legislature to establish a pilot program for cities and counties to be able to develop and coordinate homeless service systems includes the Mid-Columbia Community Action Council’s service area.  Mid-Columbia Community Action Executive Director Kenny LaPoint says unlike other selected locations which paired one city and one county, this partners Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties along with the cities of Hood River and The Dalles.  The legislation calls for recipients to receive $1 million for develop a homeless strategic plan and established a coordinated office, but LaPoint told Wasco County Commissioners that Community Action already has those in process, so they want to use the money for implementation and to develop a sustainability plan.  LaPoint is asking local governmental officials to assist in convincing legislators to approve the bill.  

A nationally renowned walkability expert is visiting White Salmon as part of the City’s initiative to update its transportation plan.  Jeff Speck is walking White Salmon with municipal staff, and will present his findings at a virtual workshop Thursday evening at 6 p.m.  Mayor Marla Keethler says the intent of the visit Speck works with communities to make them more walkable.  She says that can activate the downtown business core and drive economic development.  Information on accessing the workshop online is available at white-salmon.net.

Mid-Columbia Medical Center has closed patient visitation at its hospital and clinics as of Wednesday due to the Omicron surge.  According to an MCMC Facebook post, surgical and endoscopy patients will have a support caregiver to ensure safe discharges home.  Instructions for further care and who to call with questions will almost always occur over the telephone and discharged patients being escorted to a vehicle.  The policy is for people visiting patients at MCMC, not people who have appointments.  All appointments will continue as scheduled.  MCMC says it continues to encourage vaccination as the best defense against hospitalization and severe illness with COVID-19.

The Dalles High School Wednesday morning added its wrestling and swimming programs to its list of paused programs for the rest of the week due to an uptick in positive COVID-19 cases.  Basketball programs were paused on Tuesday.  In a statement issued on its various media platforms on Tuesday, school officials said it will continue monitoring the health of its student-athletes, with the goal for all winter athletic programs returning to practice and game action as early as Monday.

Boys Basketball Prairie 65, Hood River Valley 54: Hayden Rose scored 25 points for the Falcons, as HRV played without seven varsity players.  Emanuel Romero scored 23 points and Ethan Rivera 11 to lead the Eagles. Dufur 66, Lyle-Wishram 11 Horizon Christian 35, Grand View Christian 21   Girls Basketball Dufur 82, Lyle-Wishram 20 Horizon Christian 29, Grand View Christian 24

The Dalles High School announced Tuesday it is pausing its athletic program this week due to an uptick in positive COVID-19 cases.  In a statement issued on its various media platforms, school officials said it will continue monitoring the health of its student-athletes, with the goal for all winter athletic programs returning to practice and game action as early as Monday.  The wrestling, ski, and swim teams will continue to practice, but the school says they could be paused if needed.  The school indicated it will release new information as it becomes available.  The pause eliminated home boys’ basketball games with Aloha Tuesday night and Hood River Valley Friday night, and a girls basketball game at home with Hood River Valley on Monday.