The Dalles Warming Place needs volunteers to help it operate this year.  St. Vincent dePaul executive director Dave Lutgens says their season will be starting soon, and they are extremely short of volunteers to run it, as many who have helped over the years are getting older.  Those would like to volunteer can contact Ed Elliott at 541-386-5857 or by e-mail at eelliott@gorge.net, or by calling the St. Vincent dePaul in The Dalles at 541-296-9566.  The Warming Place operates between November 15 and March 15 on nights when the temperature approaches or is below freezing, depending on wind and precipitation.

Hood River Shelter Services is getting ready to open its warming shelter at Riverside Community Church in mid-November.  Executive Director Sarah Kellems says they trained 35 volunteers during recent fall training sessions, and had 130 active volunteers last year.  This year they are adding a staff person to oversee shelter operations each night to help lessen the load on volunteers.  More volunteer trainings are planned in the winter, and donations of warm clothing and more are always needed.  For more information, go to hoodrivercares.org.

Cross Country

The Dalles won the boys’ title and Hood River Valley rolled to the girls’ crown at the Intermountain Conference championships at Sorosis Park.  In the boys’ run, the Riverhawks held off second place Crook County and third place HRV in a close race.  Alec Case of Crook County was the individual winner, with Juan Diego Contreras of The Dalles in second and Sam Alvarez of the Riverhawks in fourth.  Omar Quintana was the top HRV runner in sixth.  Hood River Valley took four of the top five places to cruise to the girls’ team championship.  Josephine Dickinson was the individual winner, with teammates Lottie Bromham in third, Frances Dickinson in fourth, and Chloe Bullock in fifth.  Hanna Ziegenhagen topped the Riverhawks in seventh.

 

Columbia won the boys’ championship at the Southwest Washington Class 1A District meet in Woodland.  Thomas Ziegler of the Bruins was fifth while Jacob Lockman was right behind in sixth.  Abiy LaCombe of Stevenson finished 11^th to lead the Bulldogs to a sixth place finish.  In the girls’ competition Columbia took third and Stevenson fourth.  Isabella Spencer of Stevenson finished sixth, and Columbia’s Joules Hope was seventh.

 

Goldendale dominated the girls portion of the SCAC Championships at Apple Ridge.  Ellie Rising was the individual winner, while Timberwolf teammates Kimberly Chestnut and Abby Hedges were right behind in second and third.  The Timberwolves were fourth in the boys’ race, with Corbin Riley taking fifth and Sterling Beasley sixth.

 

Boys Soccer

The Dalles 3, Hood River Valley 2:  Goals by Fabian Canchola and Miguel Leon in the opening 20 minutes jumpstarted the Riverhawks to a win that clinched a state playoff berth and also denied the Eagles an undisputed Intermountain Conference title.  HRV closed to within 3-2 early in the second half, but The Dalles was able to deny the equalizer.  Hood River kept a share of the league title when Pendleton defeated Ridgeview 2-0.

 

Girls Soccer

Hood River Valley 2, The Dalles 0:   The win by Hood River gave them a share of the Intermountain Conference crown, as Ridgeview kept its half of the title by defeating Pendleton.

 

Volleyball

Columbia def. Stevenson 3 sets to 0.

The Hood River City Council approved setting aside $1.637 million dollars to use as a side account for future Public Employees Retirement System obligations, making it eligible for matching funds from the state.  City Manager Rachel Fuller noted Hood River had already put aside $500,000 a few years ago in a similar move, but this time a 25 percent state match would grow this account to over two million dollars.  Fuller says the goal is to help the City weather PERS rate increases.  Fuller adds they may not use all the money that Council gave authorization for, saying they don’t have to make that decision yet.

Columbia Gorge Community College expects to announce the selection of a general contractor for the Treaty Oaks Skills Center and Housing Project sometime next week.  CGCC’s Dan Spatz says they have an architect on board that has worked on a number of other career and technical education projects for community colleges in Oregon.  The college anticipates beginning building in May.  Design of both the skills center and the housing is currently underway.

 

The Hood River City Council has given municipal staff the go-ahead to acquire $1,600,000 in funding to attempt to acquire a seven-acre parcel on the west side of Rand Road for an affordable housing project.  It’s the latest effort by Councilors to address a lack of affordable housing opportunities.  The property is currently a mix of several different residential zones.  Mayor Kate McBride says after the collapse of the City’s efforts to develop a portion of the Morrison Park property for a housing project, they are looking for another location.  Infrastructure for the property would have to be addressed to develop it.  The City is seeking a loan with a ten-year repayment period, and has $400,000 in construction excise tax revenues that are earmarked for affordable housing to help offset some of that cost.  City Manager Rachel Fuller says the City is in the due diligence portion of the purchase.

A “Community Connection” event will take place on Wednesday in The Dalles to help those who are homeless be able to access services.  St. Vincent dePaul executive director Dave Lutgens says the event is intended to connect those in need with those who can help in a number of different areas.  There will be flu shots and veterinary care will also available, and The Dalles Police Department will be helping those who have lost their identification cards to rectify that.  The Community Connection event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mid-Columbia Senior Center on 10th and Cherry Heights in The Dalles.

The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday suspended the search for a mushroom picker who has been missing for ten days.  78-year-old Richard Sugai of Beaverton was reported missing by family members on October 19 after a day of mushroom picking on the Forest Service 60 Road north of Carson.  Undersheriff Pat Bond said officers conducted another search over the weekend, but were met with negative results.  Family members issued a statement through the Sheriff’s Office, thanking searchers and saying while they never want to give up hope, with each passing day they believe they have been transitioning from a mission of rescue to one of recovery.  Anyone who may have information on Sugai’s disappearance is asked to contact the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office.

Mid-Columbia Economic Development District will celebrate its 50th anniversary celebration by hosting its Gorge Economic Symposium this Friday at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center.  MCEDD’s Tatiana Eckhart says the symposium will touch on that milestone along with focusing on economic development in the Gorge.  NW Natural CEO David Anderson will be the keynote speaker.  The symposium runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday with tickets $25, and they are available at mcedd.org.

Klickitat County is in the midst of its 2020 budget process.  County Commissioner Jim Sizemore says their fiscal picture looks good thanks to steady revenues over the last five years.  Sizemore pointed out union negotiations are set for next year that will cover the next three years.  Commissioners have not yet decided on the cost of living adjustment for 2020, but Sizemore expects that will be approved.