The White Salmon Valley School District has established snow routes for buses that pick up students that live off Snowden Road and the Cook-Underwood Highway. District Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says difficulties getting buses onto side roads in those higher elevation areas during winter conditions led to putting together alternative locations where students can catch their bus. The alternative locations are at the Underwood Community Center, the Skamania County Road Shop lot, Echo Glen at Snowden Road, and Pyatt Road at Snowden Road.
Author: mbailey
No One Injured After RV Crashes Into Motel
Remarkably no one was injured in a Monday evening motor vehicle accident which culminated in a recreational vehicle pushing a car into the room of a Hood River motel. According to Hood River Police Lieutenant Don Cheli, the RV driven by a 47-year-old Vancouver woman was northbound on 13th Street near State Street at about 5:30 p.m. Monday when she says another vehicle cut her off, causing her to lose control of the RV. Cheli says the RV struck a southbound vehicle, and then a northbound vehicle approaching the signal light at 13th and Oak. The impact caused the motorhome to strike the nearby retaining wall at Tsuruta Park before crossing through the intersection at a high rate of speed and going into the parking lot of the Adventure Lodge, where it hit a parked car and pushed it into a room of the motel, which the RV also crashed into. Cheli noted the motel was shut down for the week, so there were no occupants in the facility at the time of the accident. No injuries were reported, and the investigation into the accident continues. Anyone who might have information is asked to contact the Hood River Police Department at 541-387-5256.
NORCOR Faces Budget Questions
The Northern Oregon Regional Corrections Facility may be facing one of the biggest fiscal challenges in its 25-year history. The regional jail that serves Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam counties started the current fiscal year with a $1 million ending fund balance, but that is projected to be all the way down to $40,000 by the start of the next fiscal year on July 1. Hood River County Commissioner Ed Weathers represents Hood River County on the NORCOR board, and he told the County Commission this week that one of the reasons for the budget crunch is a drop in the number of inmates coming from other jurisdictions that contract to use NORCOR when they don’t have enough beds. Weathers said downsizing is an option, but a large reduction in staffing would also reduce the number of inmates the facility can house.
Hood River Schools Add To EV Bus Fleet
The Hood River County School District has been getting more electric-powered buses. Superintendent Bill Newton says they have been successful in receiving $2.8 million in grants, some to pay for solar panels at Wy’east Middle School to allow the gym there to be used as an emergency shelter with a battery that is actually in a bus. In addition, Newton says they have gotten an electric van, two larger EV buses, and charging stations. He notes these buses are effective in the local area. Newton adds the technology behind EV buses continues to improve, making them more efficient.
White Salmon Council Prepares 2025 Budget
The White Salmon City Council will be looking to adopt its 2025 budget at its meeting Wednesday evening. A final public hearing will be held prior to approval. The budget includes the 1% property tax increase the City can adopt. Mayor Marla Keethler says their budget is tight, but they’ve also done a good job of managing it and finding new revenue sources. She notes it is important that they continue to focus on the key goals the community has identified with the resources on hand. Wednesday’s meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the White Salmon Fire Hall.
The Dalles Chamber CEO Attends Conference On Disabilities & Tourism
The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson recently attended a conference on how to make tourism destinations accessible to those with visible and non-visible disabilities. Farquharson says those people can face a number of hurdles to traveling. She says some of the things that can be done are simple for a business to do. In an area where tourism is largely based on outdoor activities, Farquharson says things like better signage can be a big assist. Farquharson notes those with disabilities make up 15 to 20 percent of the tourism market.
November 15-16 Prep Sports Roundup
Washington Class 1A Volleyball Tournament
First Round: Stevenson def. Lynden Christian 26-24, 27-25, 25-23
Quarterfinal: Chelan def. Stevenson 25-14, 25-12, 25-21
Consolation: Cashmere def. Stevenson 25-22, 25-18, 25-18
Oregon Class 1A 8-Man Football Playoffs
Quarterfinals
North Douglas 42, Dufur 36
Crosspoint Christian 58, Sherman 40
Oregon Class 1A 6-Man Football Playoffs
Quarterfinal
South Wasco 52, North Lake 45: The Redsides advance to the semi-finals, and will face top-seed Powers this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Cottage Grove.
Washington Class 2B Football Playoffs
First Round
Freeman 43, Goldendale 34
MCCAC Issues Report For 2023
Mid-Columbia Community Action Council says it supported over 3,000 community members in 2023 through more than $4.4 million in program services and client assistance. The agency recently released its 2023 annual report. MCCAC Executive Director Kenny LaPoint says the opening of The Annex Traditional Housing and Shelter facility in The Dalles during 2023 was a major milestone in their efforts to address houselessness in region. The report says 149 people were transitioned into long-term stable housing, 200 community members at risk of eviction maintained their housing, over 17,000 nights of shelter were provided in Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties, and over 2100 people received utility assistance. MCCAC’s report also said 51% of utility assistance and weatherization program participants identified as Native, Latinx, or BIPOC community members.
Festival Of Trees Tickets On Sale
Tickets are on sale now for Adventist Heath Columbia Gorge Foundation’s Festival of Trees gala on December 6 at The Dalles Civic Auditorium. The Foundation’s Amanda Evans says they have 15 groups committed to decorating trees to be auctioned off to benefit the Celilo Cancer Center Patient Assistance Fund and equipment needs at the hospital in The Dalles. Tickets for the gala are $20, and available at mcmc.net. It begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, December 6, and it is a 21-and-over event. The trees will be on display for the public the on Saturday, December 7 from at the festival’s annual community day from 9 a.m. to noon.
Funding For Westside Middle Housing Incentive Put In Place
The financial sources to seed a Middle Housing Construction Incentive Program for Hood River’s Westside Urban Renewal District were put in place. The Hood River Urban Renewal Agency board approved accepting a $500,000 loan from the Oregon Investment Board, and then the City Council approved providing a matching loan of the same amount. Urban Renewal Administrator Will Norris says the loans won’t be disbursed until the Westside district begins to provide incentive payments to builders, and that will not happen for at least six months, and probably a year. The money will be paid back through funds accrued by tax-increment financing for the Westside district.