Hood River County Commissioners showed support for efforts by the Mt. Hood National Forest to purchase about 1900 acres along the West Fork of the Hood River, but will wait a couple of weeks to sign a letter of support after County Sheriff Matt English said he wanted time to vet the proposal for public safety concerns. Mt. Hood National Forest District Ranger Kameron Sam told the Commission one of the reasons they are hoping to acquire the land by the end of the year is for better recreational access. English said he not seen the proposal until before the meeting on Monday, and would like time to review it before Commissioners take a position. He notes the land is adjacent to the Mt. Hood Wilderness, the Bull Run Watershed, and the Pacific Crest Trail. Sam said acquisition of the land would enhance protection of threatened and endangered fish species and habitat, and provide watershed protection.
Category: Uncategorized
Middle Mountain Side By Side Trail Development Discussed
A proposal to locate side by side vehicle trail development in the Middle Mountain area was presented to Hood River County Commissioners during a Monday worksession. County Forestry Recreation Manager T.J. Moloney told Commissioners they’ve been working with state agencies and trail constituents for a number of years to find a location. He said the proposed 22-mile loop is about the minimal distance for a worthwhile experience, but he also pointed out this recreation is currently taking place and is unmanaged, and having a formalized trail can reduce those issues. Commissioner Chad Muenzer asked if it would be better to continue work on developing a larger trail network on the East Side, but Moloney said it would be a long effort to get there. Commissioners took no action on the concept.
March 16 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Country Christian 7, Sherman 0
Boys Lacrosse
Hood River Valley 14, Beaverton 4
Boys Golf
Lincoln was the team winner at the Hood River Valley Invitational at Indian Creek Golf Course, with the Cardinals’ Mateo Gramstad shooting an even par 72 for medalist honors by seven shots. HRV was fourth, led by a 15th place finish for Aksel Betz.
Portland Man Takes Own Life After I-84 Chase
A Portland man died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase on Interstate 84 in Sherman and Gilliam counties on Friday night. The Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as 30-year-old Devon Brown. The Sheriff’s Office says the incident began when a Sherman County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle on I-84 at Biggs Junction. A pursuit ensued, and the suspect vehicle traveled eastbound on I-84 and exhibited erratic driving behavior, reaching speeds of over 100 miles per hour. A Gilliam County Sheriff’s Deputy deployed stop sticks at Phillipi Canyon in an attempt to safely disable the fleeing vehicle, but the driver avoided them. The vehicle later exited the freeway at Blalock Canyon and traveled down a paved section of an unmaintained roadway, where it eventually came to a stop. Officers gave verbal commands for the male driver to exit the vehicle, however these efforts were unsuccessful.
The Dalles Police Investigating Downtown Tire Slashings
The Dalles Police Department says it is investigating a number of incidents involving slashed tires in the downtown area near the 300 and 400 blocks of 2nd and 3rd Streets. A statement from The Dalles Police indicates they have received more than ten reports from victims so far. If you believe your vehicle was affected and have not yet reported it, contact The Dalles Police at 541-296-2233 to file a report. Also contact police if you live or operate a business in the area and have security video, or if you witnessed anything suspicious, The Dalles Police says even small details may assist in identifying those responsible, and they appreciate the community’s help as it investigates the case.
D21 Opens Online Pre-Registration For 2026-27 Kindergarten
North Wasco County School District 21 has opened online pre-registration for kindergarten for the 2026-27 school year. Children must be five years old on or before September 1 of 2026 to be eligible for enrollment. While initial registration is digital, D-21’s elementary schools will host in-person orientation events to welcome new students and their families. When registering, have a birth certificate or other proof of age, immunization records, and proof of residency available. If you are unsure of the school to enroll in, call Dry Hollow Elementary at 541-506-3370, Colonel Wright Elementary at 541-506-3360, or Chenowith Elementary at 541-506-3350, and they can direct you to the correct school.
Skyline Health To Seek Levy Lid Lift
Klickitat County Public Hospital District 2, or Skyline Health, will be seeking a property tax levy lid lift in an April 28 special election. It is seeking to raise the levy rate of 49 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value to 75 cents per thousand. For a $400,000 home, that would be an increase of $100 per year. Skyline Health Chief Executive Officer Matt Kollman says the district board made the decision to ask the community for the increase. Kollman notes they have seen a significant growth in demand for services at Skyline. Volume in the surgical department has grown 27 percent in the last couple of years, imaging is up 14 percent, and Skyline’s clinic is up eight percent.
Snowpack At 40% Of Normal
The current storm has raised snowpack in the Hood, Sandy, and Lower Deschutes Basin up to 40 percent of normal, but it is highly unlikely there will be a dramatic change by the time the snow season ends. Precipitation is at normal levels, but Natural Resources Conservation Service Oregon Water Supply Specialist Jason Ward says the higher temperatures we’ve seen this winter have made a big difference. Ward says this is the lowest snowpack in this basin since 2015. The snow season usually runs into early April, so there is still a chance for some improvement, but it probably will not be dramatic.
HR School Board Gets Budget Report
The Hood River County School District board heard a report on budget development for the upcoming fiscal year. District Superintendent Bill Newton told the board they are continuing the efforts that started last year to reduce spending to reflect a continued downward trend in enrollment and deal with increased pension and operational costs. He says the proposed moves this year include making the Cascade Locks Elementary administrative structure a half-time principal/half-time specialist position, and moving early intervention and early childhood special education from Pine Grove to Mid-Valley Elementary. Newton pointed out reduced enrollment at Mid-Valley makes the space available, while Pine Grove is aging with increasing maintenance and upgrade costs. Also proposed: reducing discretionary spending on technical hardware and software refreshes, and continuing to use retirements and resignations to bring staff size in line with student enrollment.
Dog Mountain Trail Permits Available Sunday
The Forest Service will start making Dog Mountain Trail System permits available Sunday at www.recreation.gov. Permits will be required on weekends from April 11 through June 7, and on Memorial Day. Additional batches of permits will be released four days prior to each permit date at 7 a.m. The permit system was put in place in 2018 for safety reasons on Highway 14. The trailhead parking lot reaches full capacity early on weekends and visitors would park along the highway and walk to access the trail system. A permit is included when visitors take the free Dog Mountain shuttle to and from the Skamania Fairgrounds in Stevenson. Seats are available on a first come, first served basis. Each permit is good for one individual on the day it is issued. The shuttle runs about every half hour from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends and Memorial Day. Additional information about shuttle operations can be found at https://www.ridecatbus.org/dog-mountain-shuttle/. Anyone using the parking lot at the Dog Mountain Trailhead will need to reserve one permit for each vehicle, not per person at www.recreation.gov. There is a $2.00 non-refundable administrative fee. The permit is only valid for the date reserved and does not guarantee a parking space at Dog Mountain Trailhead.