Boys Basketball

The Dalles 73, McKay 63:  Jaxson Pullen scored 20 points, Andre Niko 16, and Will Lee 14 as the Riverhawks won their first game at the Woodburn Showcase, and will face Dallas this evening.

Dufur 67, Trout Lake 40

Seton Catholic 65, Stevenson 31:  Kacen Bach scored 11 to pace Stevenson.

  Girls Basketball

Sandy 55, The Dalles 26

Trout Lake 49, Dufur 19

Health officials warned Friday Oregon’s peak number of hospitalizations since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, about 1,200, could more than double by the end of February.  Those officials expect omicron to become the dominant variant in the state within a month and possibly trigger a fifth wave of infections.  Governor Kate Brown said the Oregon Health Authority is working to expand booster vaccination, with a goal of administering booster shots to an additional million residents by the end of January, doubling the current number people who have already received the booster.  Oregon Health Sciences University lead data scientist Dr. Peter Graven said modeling does show Omicron with a dramatically lower death rate, but the issue is the number of hospitalizations that are expected.  And that has OHSU Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Renee Edwards concerned, pointing out they are still seeing a large number of Delta variant patients.  Health officials say the best way to combat the quick spread of the new variant is for people to be fully vaccinated and receive a booster shot.  Brown did not announce any added statewide coronavirus-related restrictions.  

A Wasco County grand jury Friday indicted a 23-year-old man for the attempted murder of a Wasco County Sheriff’s Deputy.  Wasco County District Attorney Matthew Ellis says Logan Cantwell has been charged with first degree attempted murder along with assault, criminal mischief, unlawful use of a weapon, and attempting to elude.  On November 13 Cantwell fired multiple rounds at the deputy after getting out of his vehicle when one of his tires blew out during a high-speed chase in the Shaniko area.  The gunshots struck the windshield and hood of the deputy’s vehicle, barely missing striking the deputy’s left side.  In a statement, Ellis said the deputy was able to reverse his vehicle while firing back at Cantwell, preventing subsequent rounds from penetrating the cab of the patrol vehicle.  The grand jury cleared the deputy of any possible wrongdoing in using his weapon in self-defense.  Cantwell is currently being held in the Skamania County Jail, where he was taken into custody days after the incident.  

An extensive search is continuing near Condon for a 22-year-old Boardman woman missing since driving away from her family’s residence on November 27.  The Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office says over 70 searchers covered about 2,700 acres on Thursday in the area where hunters on Wednesday found Autumn Jones’ unoccupied vehicle in a canyon.  The sheriff’s office says searchers used drones, ATVs and tracking dogs, and traveled by horseback and walked over the rolling terrain.  Autumn Jones is 5 feet, 10 inches tall, has blue eyes, medium-length brown hair, and weighs about 300 pounds.  She was last seen wearing a black Riverside T-shirt, black sweatshirt, black tennis shoes and possibly a black Carhartt coat.  If you have seen Jones, her car, or have other information about her disappearance, you are asked to contact the Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office at 541-351-9530.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Thursday announced a pair of Mid-Columbia infrastructure projects will be receiving federal funds.  The City of Dufur is receiving a $2,442,000 loan and $1,625,000 grant to make wastewater system improvements.  The project will expand storage, improve treatment, and make significant upgrades to Dufur’s system.  The Biggs Service District will use an $898,000 loan and $290,000 grant to complete significant water system improvements.  That will allow the service district to install a main water line which will serve all district users and provide the necessary fire flow for community growth.  In addition, the service district will purchase two formerly private wells and upgrade them to provide a backup water source.

Anglers will be able to retain sturgeon in the Columbia River from The Dalles Dam to John Day Dam only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays starting January 1 when the new season kicks off at the start of the year.  The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says a 12-day recreational season will run three days a week until January 26 or the quota of 190 sturgeon is met.  Managers are adjusting the season due to early closures that have occurred the last few years.  Under permanent regulations, sturgeon retention opens in The Dalles, Bonneville and John Day pools January 1 and is open every day until the quota is met.  But retention seasons in two of the past five years lasted less than one week and in three of the past five years, less than one month in The Dalles Pool.  Last year’s season lasted just four days, likely due to good weather and the season opening on a three-day holiday weekend, and exceeded harvest guidelines.  The ODFW says the new staggered season days will provide sufficient time for staff to monitor catches in The Dalles Pool fishery and take action to stay within harvest guidelines.  If harvest is lower than projected, additional retention days may be considered.  Sturgeon retention seasons in Bonneville and John Day Pools remain as set in permanent regulations, open every day beginning January 1 until quota is met.

A search is continuing for a missing Boardman woman near Condon.  According to the Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office, 22-year-old Autumn Jones left her family’s residence in Morrow County on November 27 to go for a drive.  Around 1:30 the next morning, Jones called her family and stated she was lost.  Using a cell phone application, her family placed Jones in Wheeler County, but an initial search did not locate her.  On November 29, a mail carrier reported seeing Jones’ car, a red 2014 Volkswagen Jetta, near Fossil, but search teams could not find Jones or the car.  On December 15, hunters found Jones’ unoccupied vehicle in a canyon near Condon.  Autumn Jones is 5 feet, 10 inches tall, has blue eyes, medium-length brown hair, and weighs about 300 pounds.  She was last seen wearing a black Riverside T-shirt, black sweatshirt, black tennis shoes and possibly a black Carhartt coat.  If you have seen Jones, her car, or have other information about her disappearance, you are asked to contact the Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office at 541-351-9530.

Data from the Oregon Health Authority shows just 26% of kids ages 5-11 have received their first vaccine dose, and in the North Central Public Health District the numbers are lower.  Wasco County is at 16%, Sherman County 7.8%, and Gilliam County 6.2%.  North Central Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell says those who were certain they wanted their child vaccinated got it done quickly, but many parents have had questions about it.  Hood River County’s vaccination rate for children age 5 to 11 is above the statewide rate at 35%.

The Hood River Police Department has again seized a large amount of fentanyl after a traffic stop. According to a Facebook post on Wednesday, an officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle occupied by a man and a woman. During the investigation in excess of 10,000 fentanyl-laced pills were seized, along with three ounces of methamphetamine and two ounces of heroin. The police statement said that at roughly $20 per pill, the estimated street value of the seized fentanyl is around $200,000.

Boys Basketball

Hood River Valley 82, Milwaukie 71:  The Eagles made 16 three-pointers on the way to the victory.  Emanuel Romero scored 25 points and Tommy Ziegler 19 to lead HRV.  Logan Law tallied 23 for the Mustangs.

The Dalles 80, Centennial 75

South Wasco 83, Dayville-Monument 18

Sherman 67, Damascus Christian 53

Cle Elum-Roslyn 88, Goldendale 55

  Girls Basketball

Woodburn 55, Hood River Valley 34

Damascus Christian 54, Sherman 20

Stevenson 50, Lyle-Wishram 14

Goldendale 54, Cle Elum-Roslyn 23