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Author: mbailey

Newton Says Many Job Reductions Occurring Through Attrition

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Hood River County School District Superintendent Bill Newton told the district board on Wednesday evening that of the 32 full-time equivalent positions being eliminated by budget cuts, approximately 24-and-a-half have been vacated by retirements, resignations, and leaves of absence.  Newton says that, along with job transfers, has allowed the district to significantly limit the number of employees receiving reduction in force notices.  Still, he added four licensed personnel and one classified staff member received layoff notices and were put on a recall list.  Newton says they currently have open two licensed and ten classified positions for the upcoming school year.  He says they are roles that have specific licensure or qualifications that do not align with current staff.

 

Drones Reseeding Natural Grasses In South Wasco County

Posted on by mbailey

Progress continues on a project in southern Wasco County funded by an Oregon Department Fish and Wildlife grant to use drones to reseed natural grasses in areas that were burned in the summer of 2023.  Dr. Mike Davis of Columbia Gorge Community College, who is one of six ranchers who received the grant, says they are about three-quarters of the way through the project and it is going well.  Davis suggested using drones to both do the actual seeding but also multi-spectral imaging of the land beforehand, providing better planning for the project.  Davis sees other applications for drones in agriculture, including imaging and data analysis for crop health and field condition monitoring, and targeted application of pesticides to reduce environmental impact.

 

Cherry Fest Weekend Arrives

Posted on by mbailey

Northwest Cherry Festival weekend is arriving in The Dalles.  Activity starts downtown, and throughout the community, on Friday and will continue into Sunday.  The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Farquharson says this year’s Grand Marshal is orchardist Mel Omeg, and King Bing and Queen Anne are former Oregon State University Extension Agent Lynn Long and his wife Marlene.  The carnival on First Street, the vendor market on First and Second streets from Court to Laughlin, and the entertainment stage on Second and Federal will all get started on Friday afternoon.

Bingen-White Salmon Community Cleanup Friday & Saturday

Posted on by mbailey

The annual Bingen-White Salmon Community Cleanup is set for Friday and Saturday.  It’s put on the Rotary Club of White Salmon and Bingen along with the Mt. Adams Chamber of Commerce.  The drop-off site is at the Bingen Public Works site off Highway 14 and will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday.  The Chamber’s Tammara Tippel says the site has various stations for unwanted items to be dropped off.  One of the areas is a “freecycle” station where reusable items can be dropped off and picked up for free.  It will be open all day Friday and until noon on Saturday.  There is a suggested donation of $10 to dispose of items at the cleanup.

April 23 Prep Sports Roundup

Posted on by mbailey

Baseball

The Dalles 9, Gladstone 2:  Three Riverhawk pitchers held the Gladiators to one hit as The Dalles moved to 5-0 in the Tri-Valley Conference.  Evan Ortega, Trey Hodges, and Hunter Bustos combined in the mound effort.

 

Softball

Gladstone 7, The Dalles 2:  The Gladiators took control with a five-run fourth inning, and stay unbeaten in the Tri-Valley Conference.

 

Track and Field

Hood River Valley topped Parkrose and host Hillsboro in a three-school Northwest Oregon Conference meet.  Sam Knoll and Wyeth Droege won two events apiece for the Eagles.

 

Columbia’s girls won a Trico League meet in White Salmon.  Sara Miller won a pair of events for the Bruins, while Danika Wright did the same for Lyle-Wishram.  The CHS boys were third behind Fort Vancouver and Kalama.

 

Girls Lacrosse

Hood River Valley 15, North Clackamas 1:  Anna Rinella and Georgia DeResta scored three goals apiece for HRV, who won their ninth in a row.

 

Klickitat County Jail Dealing With Vacancies

Posted on by mbailey

Klickitat County’s Department of Corrections is dealing with a personnel crunch.  Already with two full-time vacancies, Department Director Bill Frantz told the County Commission on Tuesday he is losing another to a year-long military leave.  Frantz says he is working to fill the positions, and may have to recruit casual, or part-time, corrections officers to bridge the gap, and also to attempt to encourage them to consider a full-time position.  Frantz says the vacancies leaves them down a full shift.  He says officers are working a lot of overtime, not calling in sick unless they are very ill, and doing everything he can ask of them to get through the situation.

 

Harris Believes Bridge & Gorge Commission Will Make Budget

Posted on by mbailey

As talks continue on a transportation package in the Washington Legislature, one 17th District legislator believes funding for a new Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge will be in it.  The bridge was in the Senate transportation budget, but not in the House.  Republican 17th District Senator Paul Harris thinks the bridge will make it as part of a package that will include a gas tax increase.  Harris also thinks funding for the Columbia River Gorge Commission will be in the general fund budget also being negotiated.  Like the bridge, the Gorge Commission was included in the Senate budget, but not in the House.  The Washington Legislature is scheduled to adjourn on Sunday, but Harris says it would not be a surprise to see a special session called with budget negotiators staying in Olympia but others going home while awaiting conclusion of those talks.

Memaloose Rest Area Closing For Renovations

Posted on by mbailey

The Memaloose Rest Area on Interstate 84 six miles east of Mosier will temporarily close to allow for the completion of a rest room building renovation and expansion project.  The Oregon Travel Information Council says the eastbound parking lots and facilities will close starting today, while westbound parking lots and facilities will close on or around May 1.  The westbound exit will remain open to allow access to the entrance of Memaloose State Park.  Both sides of the rest area will open to the public by July 1.  The Memaloose Rest Area Building Renovation and Expansion Project will upgrade and expand the existing facilities to improve restroom capacity, ensure compliance with ADA standards, and implement necessary building improvements by adding approximately 200 square feet to the women’s and men’s facilities.  The Travel Information Council approved the expenditure of $1.7 million dollars for the project, allocated by the Oregon Legislature.

Governor Signs Two Waters Bills

Posted on by mbailey

Two bipartisan bills from Washington State 17th District Rep. Kevin Waters will take effect later this year after being signed by the governor this week, including one that will allow alcohol producers and breweries to sublet their kitchen space.  House Bill 1602, which unanimously passed both chambers, allows breweries to subcontract the restaurant part of their business to individuals or entities better suited for running the food service side.  Currently, a brewery must meet specific food service requirements to operate a new location using a restaurant liquor license.  The governor also signed House Bill 1609, which promotes the efficient administration of state education agencies by allowing the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to use a designee on the Board of Natural Resources.  Current law specifies that the superintendent is a board member and does not authorize the use of a designee.  HB 1609 will allow the superintendent more time to supervise the administration of school policies and procedures by sending a designee in his or her place to meetings about timber sales that fund schools.

WAGAP Plans Senior Financial Wellness Fairs

Posted on by mbailey

Washington Gorge Action Programs Pathways program is planning a pair of Financial Wellness Fairs for seniors.  The first will be on May 5 in Goldendale, with a second to be held at a date to be announced in June in White Salmon.  Pathways Director Abby Brandt Whalin says the focus is to get information to seniors about financial resources and threats.  There will be hands on help setting up auto pay and organizing important records.  The first session will be on May 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Goldendale Senior Center, and to signup email pathways@wagap.org.  A second session will take place in late June in White Salmon.

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