Providence Health Services has announced that Rebecca Coplin will be the new chief administrator at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital. Coplin has been in the same role at Providence Seaside Hospital since 2021, and has been with Providence for 23 years. Prior to being in Seaside, Coplin was executive director of clinical programs and institutes for Providence Oregon, and before that worked in strategic management services. Coplin’s background includes a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology and chemistry from the University of Delaware and a master’s degree in health care administration from Washington University in St. Louis. Coplin will start at Providence Hood River on October 20.
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Hood River Pool Option Survey Available
After an open house and an initial community survey, the Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District is continuing its swimming pool options study to evaluate the future of the aging Hood River Aquatic Center. An online survey at hoodriverparksandrec.org include details on three different pool design concepts, including estimated costs and an opportunity to provide feedback. One would involve renovation of the existing pools and replacement of the pool house. A second concept is a full replacement of the pool with a new layout and updated features, maintaining the same square footage as the first concept. And the third option is full replacement with a slightly larger facility and a different layout, designed to support future growth in community use and programming. The survey is at hoodriverparksandrec.org through September 28.
MCFR Kept Busy By Two Fires
Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue crews had a busy Wednesday afternoon and evening. First, at around 4 p.m., crews responded to a four-acre fire near milepost 79 on Interstate 84, joined by resources from the Oregon Department of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service. While that was going on, another fire was reported at 7:11 p.m. in the median of the freeway at milepost 92. It was about one to two acres in size, with MCFR joined by the Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon State Police, and the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office. Both fires were controlled and in mop-up by the late evening. Fire officials say it may seem like we are close to fall, but conditions in the Gorge remain very dry and fire season is still active.
Recreation Salmon Fishing Extended To Sunday
Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington added more recreational salmon fishing days in the mainstem Columbia River during a joint-state hearing Wednesday. The decision came after fishery managers assessed Chinook harvest in the fall season fisheries and considered the current in-season abundance expectations for upriver salmon stocks. From Warrior Rock to the Hwy 395 Bridge at Pasco, Chinook and coho retention will remain open through Sunday with a daily adult bag limit of two salmon, either Chiniook or coho, but only one may be a Chinook. Wild coho caught downstream of the Hood River Bridge must be released. Anglers should note that for all of the areas upstream of the west Puget Island line listed above, retention of coho is expected to reopen on October. 1 and remain open through the end of the year. Hatchery steelhead fishing will also be open on the mainstem Columbia downstream of The Dalles Dam from November 1 to December 31.
September 17 Prep Sports Roundup
Girls Soccer
The Dalles 2, LaGrande 1
Cross Country
Hood River Valley had five of the top six placers as the Eagle boys cruised to a Northwest Oregon Conference win over Wilsonville, Milwaukie, and Parkrose at Champoeg State Park. Victor Coffman and Andres Moretti finished one-two for the Eagles. In the girls’ race, HRV’s Isabel Ulland finished seventh as the Eagles finished second to Wilsonville.
Volleyball
South Wasco def. Bickleton 25-16, 25-13, 25-7
White Salmon Schools Continues Process Toward A K-12 Facility
The White Salmon Valley School District is about to enter into a public input phase to discuss a long-range planning committee recommendation to construct a K-12 facility at the current intermediate, middle, and high school campus to replace the aging Whitson Elementary School. District Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says at a recent worksession, the district received a preliminary cost estimate for the project of $108 million, of which $30 million would come from a state grant. Polkinghorn says the district board will be grappling with how they want to proceed over the next couple of months. Polkinghorn added the district has been shooting for putting a proposal on the February 2026 ballot.
Homebuyer Fair Set For September 25
The Mid-Columbia Association of Realtors will host its Gorge Homebuyer Fair for the second year in a row next week at the Hood River Armory. Alejandra Calderon of Jen Dillard Real Estate says the event is designed to encourage homeownership across the Gorge region by connecting residents with education, resources, and local experts. All educational materials will be available in both Spanish and English. The event is free and open to the public. It will take place September 25, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Hood River Armory.
Port of HR Hears “State Of The Bridge” Report
Port of Hood River Commissioners heard a “State of the Bridge” report from engineering consultants and Port staff to get an update on the health of the span between Hood River and White Salmon. The Oregon Department of Transportation coordinates a bridge inspection every two years, and in 2024 the rating for the condition of the deck and superstructure actually went up to a 6 on a scale up to ten, but the substructure beneath the water was down to a 4. Mikel Mitchell of HPR Engineering said one of the key things they are monitoring is the condition of the coating on the steel. He says it is not affecting the capacity of the bridge, but it is something they need to stay ahead of. Mitchell noted maintenance of the bridge steel and coatings is planned for 2026. The Port is seeking to keep the current bridge in good repair until a new crossing is constructed.
Wasco County Opts-In To Opioid Settlement
Wasco County Commissioners opted in to another opioid settlement at their meeting on Wednesday. County Counsel Kristen Campbell told Commissioners the County had earlier opted in to the Purdue Pharma and Sackler settlement, and this one will involve a wider range of other manufacturers and distributors, but with the same terms. The amount of money Wasco County will receive is still unknown. Campbell noted uses for that funding are fairly broad under the general definition developed for the settlement.
September 16 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Volleyball
Putnam def. Hood River Valley 25-20, 25-22, 25-16
Pendleton def. The Dalles 26-24, 25-18, 17-25, 25-21
Seton Catholic def. Columbia 3-1
Castle Rock def. Stevenson 3-2
Dufur def. Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 25-10, 25-15, 25-18
Ione-Arlington def. Horizon Christian 25-8, 25-13, 25-6
Sherman def. Trout Lake-Glenwood 25-19, 26-24, 25-15
Lyle-Wishram def. Condon 27-25, 25-17, 25-15
Girls Soccer
Hood River Valley 3, Gresham 2
Seton Catholic 9, Columbia 2
Castle Rock 2, Stevenson 0
Catlin Gabel 10, Trout Lake-Horizon Christian 2
Boys Water Polo
Barlow 20, Hood River Valley 7
Girls Water Polo
Barlow 23, Hood River Valley 7