The Port of The Dalles has been working with the Oregon State Marine Board looking for ways to reconfigure and improve the boat launch ramp at the Port’s marina.  Port Executive Director Andrea Klaas says one of the issues is in play right now with high Columbia River water levels.  She says with the current water levels, when people walk down the approach ramp they have to step up on to the dock.  Klaas says the Port is taking pictures to document the situation.  Klaas adds with pikeminnow season underway, the marina is very busy.

If the Hood River County School District’s five-year continuation of its local option levy passes this evening, the district is planning to add eight to nine staff members.  Superintendent Dan Goldman says it would represent a continued slow climb out of the recession of ten years ago.  But if it doesn’t pass, Goldman says the district faces reducing staff by 29 people.  The district would also have to spend two million dollars from reserves, something Goldman says they don’t want to do with looming PERS rate increases.

Voters in Oregon have until Tuesday at 8 p.m. to deliver their ballots to County election offices.  Heading into today 27 percent of Hood River County ballots had been returned, while Wasco County was just under 25 percent.  Ballot drop boxes are located in Hood River County at the County Administration Building and Cascade Locks City Hall, and in Wasco County at the County Courthouse in The Dalles and Maupin City Hall.  County Commission races highlight both ballots locally.  In Hood River County, the school district’s local option levy is also up for vote.

The Hood River County Budget Committee has adopted a recommended fiscal plan for 2018-19, and is headed to the County Commission for approval.  It uses about $763,000 in reserve funds to help fill a $1.4 million shortfall.  County Commission Chair Ron Rivers says that’s to allow time to figure out how to find solutions for the County’s revenue issues.  County Administrator Jeff Hecksel said there was a reduction in the parks budget that will lead to no maintenance at Oak Grove, Panorama Point and Ruthton parks along with the cemetery in 2019.  The County will contract with the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area to partner on GIS services, and there are minor reductions to the County Museum and extension services.

The Port of The Dalles is partnering in marketing of Columbia Gorge Regional Airport properties.  Port Executive Director Andrea Klaas says the industrial land there provides an extension of business recruitment efforts for The Dalles.  She adds with the new Lifeflight hangar in place, they are working with airport owners Klickitat County and the City of The Dalles to help find more tenants, including putting together a welcoming video loop for the airport terminal touting the attraction of the area for business.  Klaas adds getting the new building in place provides those who might want to locate a business there a better picture of what can be done at the airport in Dallesport.  

Track and Field Stevenson won the Trico League boys’ track and field championships at home, while Columbia was second.  Lincoln Krog won three events and David McAndie two to help lead the Bulldogs to the title.  In the girls’ competition Stevenson was third and Columbia fifth as Seton Catholic won the team title.  Kaitlyn Rathgeber and Addison Newell won events for Stevenson, while Makayla Fies and Alondra Casarez-Garcia did the same for CHS.   Horizon Christian won the Oregon Class 1A Special District 3 boys’ championship.  The Hawks received only one first place finish, from Andrew Hung in the 400 meters, but used to overall team depth to win.  Tanner Masterston won the sprints for Dufur.  Griswold won the girls’ team title.  South Wasco’s Ana Popchock won four events, and Sherman’s Desiree Winslow was first in three.   Trout Lake won both the boys and girls titles at the Greater Columbia Gorge League Championships.  Cole McKinney had two of the Mustang boys’ eleven first place finishes, while Liz Fink, Hannah Funkhouser, and Isabella Dean had two apiece as the Trout Lake girls grabbed 13 event wins.  Brooklyn Emerson of Glenwood won three events.   Goldendale’s boys and girls had fifth place finishes at the SCAC West Championships.  The Timberwolves’ Dillon Rising won the boys’ 1600 and 3200 meters, and Allison Gilliam swept the girls’ hurdles races.   Baseball Hood River Valley 15, The Dalles 3:  Connor Coerper and Ryan Gray drove in three runs apiece, while Greyson Losee struck out 11 as the Eagles finished a four-game season sweep of the Riverhawks.   Southwest Washington Class 1A District Baseball Tournament Columbia 2, Tenino 0 LaCenter 4, Columbia 2:  The Bruins fall one win short of a state tournament invitiation.   SCAC Baseball Tournament Royal 5, Goldendale 3   Softball The Dalles 2, Hood River Valley 1:  Bailey LeBreton’s two-out, two-run homer gave the Riverhawks their only win of the Columbia River Conference season. Columbia splits with LaCenter, winning game one 9-8 but losing game two 10-3. Stevenson at Castle Rock, doubleheader   Southwest Washington Class 1-A District Boys Soccer Tournament Third Place Game:  Columbia 2, Hoquiam 1:  The Bruins advance to the state tournament, and will play Overlake on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Sammamish High School.   Boys Tennis Hood River Valley’s Vaughn Reardon and Sawyer Bogard had a one-two finish in singles to lead HRV to a second place finish to Summit.  That’s the best district tournament finish ever for the Eagles.   Boys and Girls Tennis Goldendale’s John Hanna and Alden Bothamley advanced to the semi-finals in boys’ doubles and Talia Johnson and Kelli Bighorn did the same in girls’ doubles before falling at SCAC West Tournament at Sunnyside.   Girls Tennis Stevenson 3, Three Rivers Christian 2   Boys Lacrosse Lincoln 20, Hood River Valley 2

The Dalles Public Works Department will reconstruct the intersection of Mount Hood Street and West 10^th Street on Monday.  Traffic will be detoured to Bridge Street, West 11^th Street, Jordan Street and West 9^th Street.  Detours around the work area will be in place all day from 5:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  No parking zone signs and reader boards have been placed ahead of the intersection closure on Monday.  Motorists are asked to park vehicles outside of the work zone during work hours.  The purpose of this project is to restore the pavement structure.

Track and Field Hood River Valley’s boys won the Columbia River Conference championship in Hermiston, while The Dalles finished fourth.  The Eagles earned seven first place finishes on the final day of competition, including Chad Klaas in the 100 meters, Gabriel Campos-Davis in the 200 meters, Matthew Tichenor in the 400 meters, Brycen Polzel in the javelin, Jonah Tactay in the triple jump, and both the four by 100 and four by 400 meter relay teams.  In girls’ competition Hood River Valley was second to Hermiston and The Dalles third.  HRV received second day wins from Josephine Dickinson in the 1500 meters, Katie Kennedy in the high jump, and Abigail McCormick in the long jump.  Emma Mullins of The Dalles won the 800 meters.   Baseball The Dalles 9, Hermiston 2:  The Riverhawks defeated the Bulldogs for the third time this year to close in on a spot in the Class 5-A play-ins.  Dalles Seufalemua had three hits and four runs batted in to lead the Riverhawk offense while Jordan Wetmore had a solid pitching effort, giving up only three hits and walking none while striking out five for the complete game victory.  The Dalles will advance to a play-in game next week if Hermiston loses to Pendleton or they defeat Hood River Valley today.   Softball Hermiston 10, The Dalles 6:  The Bulldogs scored three runs in each of the third, fourth, and fifth innings to grab the win.   Southwest Washington Class 1-A District Boys Soccer Tournament Toledo 1, Columbia 0:  Toledo scored in the 60^th minute for the game’s only goal.  The Bruins play Hoquiam on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Montesano for third place in the district and a state tournament berth.

A 77-year-old Hood River man was arrested on sex abuse charges this week soon after completing a prison sentence for similar charges.  The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office says Kenneth Gordon Lolley lodged at NORCOR on charges of sex abuse in the first degree after investigators identified a new victim dating back to before Lolley’s original arrest in 2013.  Lolley is the former owner of a pottery store where he taught classes to adults and children.  He was sentenced to 54 months in prison as the result of being convicted in 2015 of numerous sex offenses.  Lolley was released from the Oregon State Penitentiary on Tuesday, but was arrested by detectives when he returned to Hood River.  The investigation is ongoing.  Detectives are asking for anyone that may have information on this case or another involving Lolley to call the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 541 387-7077.

The committee coordinating reconstruction of Hood River’s Children’s Park has seen donations pick up enough in recent days to the point they can move forward with the project as planned, including poured in place surfacing.  City Councilor Megan Saunders says they have some donation commitments that need to be collected, but are now at a point where the panel feels like it can proceed.  Donations for the Children’s Park project continue to be accepted.  For information on how to help click on the Children’s Park tile at the City of Hood River website.  Volunteers are needed to help during build week for the project starting on June 4.