The Port of Hood River Commission approved issuing a request for developer interest for both the Marina East and West building properties. The about 2.6 acres currently is the location of a small and aging commercial building that includes the Motor Vehicles Division office. Port Executive Director Kevin Greenwood says as the Port ceases to use Interstate Bridge tolls they will be looking at maximizing their other revenue opportunities to maintain park and waterfront services. He says this step falls short of actually seeking formal proposals for the properties. The Marina East and West properties are currently zoned C-2 Commercial. Utilities are available at each site, though upgrades may be required depending on redevelopment scale.
Author: mbailey
URA Board Approves Extension For Basalt Commons
The Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency Board approved a second six-month extension of two funding agreements with Hanlon Development for the proposed Basalt Commons mixed use commercial and residential development on East 3rd at the site of the former Griffith Motors building. The agreements for Urban Renewal to provide up to $1 million for systems development charges and a $730,000 direct equity contribution to support project feasibility were about to expire. The extension was requested to allow sufficient time to complete remaining third party approvals and finalize the financing and permit requirements necessary to initiate construction. URA Manager Jacob Anderson told the board the project still represents the best opportunity for housing development in downtown The Dalles. Basalt Commons is currently proposed to include 116 units of housing.
White Salmon Schools Prepare For Next Step After Bond Vote
With voter approval of a bond measure to create a K-12 campus to replace the aging Whitson Elementary School in hand, White Salmon Valley School District officials will now start the journey toward actually building it. District Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says he will meet with their project management group next week to determine the next layer of work. Determining when to sell the bonds will be high on the list, in conjunction with a financial analyst in the management group. Polkinghorn adds that hiring an architect will be another near-term priority. He says the expectation is to construct the K-12 campus within four years.
February 17 Prep Basketball Roundup
Boys Basketball
Southwest Washington 1A District Tourney: Hoquiam 54, Columbia 42 (loser out)
Girls Basketball
Big Sky Conference Playoff: Trout Lake 56, Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 31: The Mustangs advance to a semi-final match-up with Ione-Arlington on Thursday.
Big Sky Conference Playoff: South Wasco 47, Sherman 27: The Redsides will visit regular season league champion Dufur on Thursday evening.
Three Injured In Monday Morning Accident On Highway 197 Bridge
Three people were injured in a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Highway 197 and Bret Clodfelter Way in The Dalles on Monday morning.
According to The Dalles Police Department, the accident involved an Oregon State Police Fish and Game K-9 unit and two commercial vehicles, an unloaded log truck and a semi-truck and trailer.
Two OSP troopers were injured an taken to Portland area hospitals, and are in stable condition.
The driver of one of the commercial motor vehicles was also injured and transported to a medical facility
The K-9 was not injured.
The intersection was closed for most of Monday.
The Dalles Police say the investigation is ongoing, and they are asking for anybody who has information regarding this crash to call them at 541-296-2613 and reference case number D26-0261.
Cherry Festival To Be Headquartered On Fourth Street
The Northwest Cherry Festival in The Dalles this spring will be headquartered on Fourth Street from Federal to not quite all the way to Union Street. The festival had to move off of First Street as renovations there will be taking place for at least a year. The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson says they have worked with the City of The Dalles to make the decision to move to Fourth Street. She realizes this will be inconvenient for some businesses on Fourth Street, but they are working to lessen the impact. Farquharson says the Chamber and the City will be releasing further details on the Festival’s new location in the very near future. The Cherry Fest will be the weekend of April 24th to the 26th.
Port of Hood River To Transition To New Parking App
The Port of Hood River is transitioning to a new mobile app for paid parking in the Waterfront area. Port Executive Director Kevin Greenwood says they will start using the same app the City of Hood River uses for parking, which should be more convenient for users. The parking arrangements on the Waterfront won’t change, just the app that is used for people to make payments. Greenwood notes as the Port transitions away from bridge toll revenue to backfill waterfront recreation costs, the paid parking established three years ago has become an important part of paying for those services.
Big River CLT Receives Grant For Affordable Home Development
Big River Community Land Trust says it has been awarded a $2 million federal grant to put toward developing 40 affordable homes in the Hood River area. Big River CLT recently acquired 2.7 acres on Avalon Drive to create a cluster of affordable homes. The organization says the grant will allow it to accelerate planning, site preparation, and construction for moderately sized homes set up to remain affordable through the community land trust model. Big River CLT says it is about halfway to its $4 million goal to cover development expenses and administrative costs, and is turning to the community for additional support to reach that target. Those wishing to help can go to bigriverclt.org.
Cherry Blossom Respite Now Operating
Cherry Blossom Respite at the Mid-Columbia Senior Center in The Dalles is now operating. It’s a dementia-specific respite care program funded in part by a grant from the Center of Dementia Respite Innovation, designed to provide relief for caregivers supporting those living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Respite care provides caregivers time to rest while ensuring the person living with dementia receives safe and compassionate support. The program received a grant of over $13 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with the remaining funds coming from non-government sources. Caregivers interested in learning more about dementia-specific respite care can contact Cherry Blossom Respite at 541-288-8315 or email at cherryblossomADP@gmail.com.
February 13-14 Prep Sports Roundup
Swimming
Hood River Valley’s boys earned seven entries to next weekend’s Oregon Class 5A Championships and the girls’ six spots out of the Northwest Oregon Conference Championships. Luca Montague won both the girls’ 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke, while Felipe Mendez won the boys’ 100 breaststroke and Kane Wagner the 100 freestyle. HRV was also victorious in the girls’ 200 medley relay, girls’ 200 freestyle relay, and the boys’ 200 medley relay.
The Dalles gained eight boys’ entries and six girls’ entries for the state 4A Championships during the Special District 1 meet. Rhett Loughmiller won both the boys’ 100 backstroke and 200 freestyle. The Dalles boys’ 200 and 400 freestyle relays also won district titles, as did the girls’ 400 freestyle relay team.
Girls Wrestling
Hood River Valley’s Valeria Solorio Campos won all four of her matches to win the 155 pound division at the 6A/5A District 2 Tournament at Sandy, as three HRV wrestlers advanced to state. Solorio Campos won all four of her matches by fall, including in the final to defeat Dominica Rodela of Jefferson 2:15 into the match. Also earning spots in the state tournament in two weeks were Ayleen Marquez at 110 and Xiomara Gordian-Gomez at 155.
Boys Wrestling
The Dalles advanced three to state at the 4A District 4 Tournament in Madras. Harley Scott at 138, Aiden Flores at 144, and Kaedyn Linker at 215 all earned third place finishes to nail down their invitations to the state meet.
Girls Basketball
Columbia 44, Elma 43: The Bruins advance to the Southwest Washington Class 1A District Semi-Final. They will go on the road to take on Montesano on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Dufur 45, Trout Lake 40
Ione-Arlington 33, Sherman 28
Baker 65, The Dalles 50
Boys Basketball
Horizon Christian 61, Klickitat-Glenwood 53
Dufur 59, Trout Lake 29
Ione-Arlington 59, Sherman 56