Wasco County Commissioners approved using a design-build process rather than the usual competitive bidding process to take bids to design the restoration of an RV park that’s part of 159 acres of property just west of The Dalles the County purchased in 2022. Commissioners made the move for the Oak Ranch Revitalization Project in an effort to show progress so the County can retain a $1 million grant it received from Oregon State Parks for the project. County Administrator Tyler Stone says this will involve determining what is in good condition and what is not from a previous attempt at an RV park on the property. The plan to move forward is to evaluate the existing systems in the ground, then revitalize those as necessary, and build in the electricity component that was not built in the original park. Stone adds there is water infrastructure and some sewer. Stone says there would still be a number of hurdles to clear to make the RV park functional. It would be for short stays, with a maximum of 14-day visits.
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Cherry Festival Weekend Arrives
Northwest Cherry Festival weekend has arrived in The Dalles, with plenty of changes as attractions are moved due to the on-going construction on 1st Street. The Rainier Amusements Carnival will start in Lewis & Clark Festival Park at 4 p.m. Friday afternoon, with most of other activities on Saturday. The festival will be spread out from Festival Park to 4th Street. The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson says while there are location changes, and a little more area to walk, she says all of the usual attractions are there. Festival Parade leaves 6th and Webber at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning, the vendors’ market is on Federal Street, the Community Fair on 4th and Washington, and the Children’s Activity Fair in the Civic Auditorium parking lot off 4th Street. A complete schedule is at northwestcherryfestival.com.
Hood River Planning Panel Hears Testimony On Amazon Appeal
The Hood River County Planning Commission heard nearly three hours of testimony on a Thrive Hood River appeal of a staff decision to approve an industrial land use permit for a 48,960 square foot Amazon distribution center on former Lower Hanel Mill land north of Highway 35 and southeast of Mill Creek Road. No decision was rendered, as Commissioners elected to keep the record open until April 29, allow seven more days after that for rebuttals, and then seven more days reserved for final comments from the applicant. The Planning Commission would then deliberate at its May 27 meeting. The planning panel heard a large amount of opposition, with most citing concerns for traffic on Highway 35 and adjacent roads. Both the Oregon Department of Transportation and Hood River County Public Works have indicated they have no concerns after a traffic study done by the applicants based on a Wednesday last September. But opponents disputed that study, offering their personal histories with traffic in that area.
CGCC Gets Approval To Move Forward On Teacher Program
Columbia Gorge Community College has been approved by the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission to move forward toward offering a new Bachelor of Applied Science in Education degree, creating a local pathway for students to become licensed teachers. CGCC Communications Director Tom Penberthy says the Bachelor of Applied Science degree focuses on career-specific skills and hands-on learning—helping move classroom-ready educators and instructional paraprofessionals into teaching roles more quickly. CGCC is one of five community colleges statewide selected to offer the degree, alongside Chemeketa, Linn-Benton, Rogue, and Treasure Valley. There are still a number of steps to be taken before the program can begin, most notably receiving accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, as well as gaining approval from Oregon’s Teacher Standards and Practices Commission.
Newhouse Joins Colleagues Seeking More Staffing For FSA & NRCS
Washington 14th District Congressman Dan Newhouse has joined fourteen other Republican House members in signing a letter to Agriculture Undersecretary Richard Fordyce asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to address understaffing at the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. In the letter, the legislators say without proper staffing, it has become increasingly difficult for offices to implement programs, including the recently established Farmer Bridge Assistance program. The representatives say they have heard from constituents about major delays in application processing, payments, and contract certification over the last several months. While a majority of these concerns have centered around conservation programs and the FBA program, they worry it will be an ongoing issue for all programs under the Farm Production and Conservation mission area that Fordyce oversees. They add USDA deployment of staff to affected county offices a few days a week has been helpful, but it is only a temporary solution to an ongoing problem.
HRPD Plans Drug Take Back Day
The Hood River Police Department is going to take part in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday. It is a safe and free way to dispose of unwanted or expired household medications. Hood River Police will accept them from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at Hood River City Hall. Medications in any dosage form will be accepted. Not accepted are herbal remedies, vitamins, supplements, cosmetics, other personal care products, emptied medical devices, batteries, mercury-containing thermometers, sharps, illicit drugs, pet pesticide products, animal medicines, and biologics.
April 22 Prep Sports Roundup
Track and Field
The Dalles topped Gladstone and Molalla in both the boys and girls portions of a three-school Tri-Valley Conference meet. Laura Black won three events for the Riverhawks girls, while Patrick Rankin won two for The Dalles boys.
Stevenson won the boys’ portion of a four school Trico League meet at Columbia, with the host Bruins taking third. Jude Travinski and Brayden Hays won two events each for the Bulldogs. Stevenson was second and Columbia third behind LaCenter in the girls’ half of the meet. Columbia’s Sara Miller and Stevenson’s Mira McIlwain won two events apiece.
Boys Soccer
Fort Vancouver 3, Columbia 2: The Bruins suffered its second loss in 12 Trico League games, dropping its lead over LaCenter atop the standings to a single point. Fort Vancouver moved to within three points with a game in hand.
Onalaska 11, Stevenson 0
Girls Lacrosse
Hood River Valley 20, Camas 10
Bingen-White Salmon Cleanup This Weekend
The Bingen-White Salmon Community Cleanup is set for Friday and Saturday. Put on by the White Salmon-Bingen Rotary Club, it is headquartered again at its traditional location on Bingen Public Works property on Marina Way south of Highway 14. The flow of the site begins with usable items first gleaned by the Gorge Rebuild It Center and The Dalles Freestore, and the remaining usable items placed in the “freecycle” zone for others to claim, before moving on to disposal locations. No refrigerators or freezers will be accepted, and paint cans will not be taken unless the paint is completely dried. For complete information, go to the WA Community Cleanup Facebook page.
WAGAP Continues LIEAP Program Processing
Even though winter has wound down, the Washington Gorge Action Programs continues to process applications for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, and are still accepting inquiries as well. The program serves about 1500 families, but funding was delayed due to the federal government shutdown. WAGAP’s Rachel Johnson says because of that delay, they are still working through their wait list. She notes it has been perceived as a winter program, but warmer temperatures mean there is demand in the summer as well. For information on the program, call WAGAP at 509-493-2662, ext. 202.
Respite Programs Moving To St. Paul’s Church
Cherry Blossom Respite is relocating its dementia-specific respite care program from Mid-Columbia Senior Center to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in The Dalles beginning on May 5. The program is funded through a grant from the Center for Dementia Respite Innovation, and is designed to provide relief for caregivers supporting people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Program Manager Danette Utley says moving to the new location will allow the program to provide services at a more convenient time from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. She says a morning time is beneficial for participants as that is the best time for cognitive activities, and will give caregivers a time for their own appointments. A light meal will also be provided. 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.