The Mid-Columbia Community Action Council on Monday announced the launch of a capital campaign to secure a long-term home for its Hood River Shelter. The shelter is currently located at 1733 Oak on land MCCAC leases. But Executive Director Leslie Naramore says they are looking for a one to two acres for a permanent location to place the twelve pallet shelters, along with space for community partners to provide services similar to, but smaller than, the Gloria Center in The Dalles. She says the first phase of the campaign is to purchase land, with a goal of $1.2 million. Once they can purchase the land, a second phase of the capital campaign will be to raise funds for construction of the facility. Donations are being taken at mccac.com.
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Port of HR Strategic Plan Available For Comment
The Port of Hood River’s proposed updated strategic business plan is currently available for public comment. Port Executive Director Kevin Greenwood says some this plan focuses on planning for a post-Interstate Bridge future, with a focus on finding revenue and reducing costs to have a world-class waterfront recreation area. That includes continuing moving toward a roundabout at Second and Riverside that would allow the trip counts to allow for continued development on the Waterfront. Moving the Ken Jernstedt Airfield to self-sufficency is also within the plan, along with continued efforts to redevelop properties. The proposed strategic plan can be reviewed at portofhoodriver.com.
TD Tourism For Summer Appears To Have Been Good
The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lynn Cox says it was a pretty good summer for tourism. Cox says they don’t have all of the hard data at this point, particularly for the past 30 days of activity. But she says the feedback she has received so far is good. Cox notes everyone is feeling an economic crunch right now. She says the Chamber is working with local businesses to get the word out on what the area has available, and to be prepared for next year’s tourism marketing efforts.
September 18-19 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Football
Hood River Valley 26, Pendleton 13
Mac-Hi 55, The Dalles 8
Elma 35, Columbia 7
LaCenter 52, Stevenson 7
Dufur 50, Sherman 20
Elgin 48, Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 6
Boys Soccer
Trout Lake-Horizon Christian 4, Amity 0
The Dalles 4, Astoria 1
Girls Soccer
The Dalles 2, Astoria 0
Volleyball
Hood River Valley goes 2-2 at the Westview Tournament, defeating McNary and Glencoe and falling to Westview and Central Catholic.
Sherman, Horizon Christian at Condon Tournament
Trout Lake-Glenwood goes 2-3 at Powder Valley Tournament, winning over Grant Union and Days Creek, and losing to Adrian, Joseph, and Prairie City.
Boys Water Polo
The Eagles boys were 2-3 at a tournament at the Hood River Aquatic Center, losing to Barlow, Grant, and Mountain View, while winning over Sheldon and Lincoln.
Girls Water Polo
Hood River Valley 13, Barlow 3
Two Killed In Monday Highway 26 Crash
Oregon State Police released details on Monday night’s two-vehicle crash on Highway 26 in Wasco County that left two people dead. The crash happened around 9:16 p.m. near milepost 74 — about 29 miles northwest of Warm Springs, along the mountain descent from the Mount Hood National Forest into the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Police say a semi-truck hauling a 53-foot intermodal container was traveling eastbound when the driver, 31-year-old Dagoberto Moreno-Prada of Eugene, lost control while navigating a corner. The truck and trailer rolled and slid into the westbound lane, where they were struck head-on by an SUV driven by 35-year-old J. Natividad Martinez-Colin of Vancouver, Washington. The crash dislodged the large steel shipping container from the trailer. The container and the SUV went through the guardrail and came to rest off the highway, while the semi-truck rolled several more times before stopping in the roadway. Moreno-Prada and Martinez-Colin were both pronounced dead at the scene.
Recreation Sites Damaged By Grasshopper Fire
Firefighters and resource advisors have assessed damage at most developed recreation sites within or near the Grasshopper Fire perimeter. On the Mount Hood National Forest, five recreation sites sustained some level of damage: Bonney Horse Camp, Bonney Crossing Campground, Little Badger Campground, Fifteenmile Campground and Badger Lake Campground. Damage ranges from fire-weakened trees to burned or destroyed infrastructure, including picnic tables, signs and hitching posts. Flag Point Lookout was also lost in the fire. There is some good news. Firefighters were able to protect Pebble Ford Campground, Eightmile Campground, Underhill Campground, Lower Eightmile Campground and Camp Baldwin, a private Scouting America inholding.
Bridge Closures Planned
The Hood River–White Salmon Bridge will see several overnight closures and daytime traffic interruptions beginning Monday. The work includes mechanical and electrical maintenance on the bridge’s lift system, along with steel and coating repairs designed to keep the existing bridge operating until a replacement is completed. The bridge will be fully closed overnight Monday through Thursday of next week from midnight until 6 a.m. During the day, Monday through Wednesday, drivers can expect brief traffic interruptions between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Most will last about 15 minutes, but delays of up to an hour are possible between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., and again from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Additional overnight closures for steel and coating repairs are scheduled on weekdays from September 29th through October 12th, from midnight until 5:30 a.m. Drivers are advised to plan ahead, expect delays and use an alternate route during full bridge closures.
Skamania County Search & Rescue Seeking Volunteers
The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team is opening its volunteer application period October first through October 31st. The team is made up of volunteers who assist the Sheriff’s Office with search, rescue and emergency response operations throughout the region. Volunteers respond to missing-person searches, wilderness rescues, disaster support and other emergencies, often in challenging terrain and weather conditions. Officials say members commit to ongoing training, operational readiness and teamwork in demanding environments. In return, volunteers gain the opportunity to serve their community, develop valuable skills and be part of a mission-driven team. No prior search and rescue experience is required. Those interested can learn more and apply at SCSOSAR.org/join-us.
Cascade Locks Celebrates Bridge Of The Gods Centennial
A Columbia Gorge landmark is turning 100, and Cascade Locks is marking the occasion this weekend. The Bridge of the Gods will celebrate its centennial Saturday with a festival at Marine Park. The celebration runs from noon to 8 p.m. and includes live music, historical presentations, family activities, a vintage car show and local vendors. The steel bridge opened in 1926. The bridge also stands near the site of a much older natural crossing. Native American oral histories describe a land bridge across the Columbia, while researchers believe it may have been formed by a massive landslide from Mount Hood.
Mariposa Village Receives Award
The new affordable housing development in Hood River is receiving statewide recognition. Mariposa Village has been named a 2026 Building Tomorrow Today Award winner by the Oregon American Planning Association. The project is the City of Hood River’s newest affordable housing development — and the first time the city has taken on the role of housing producer. When complete, Mariposa Village will provide 130 income-restricted homes for families earning between 30 and 60% of the area median income. The city purchased seven acres for the project and leveraged $1.6 million in local resources to attract nearly $55 million in outside investment. The first two of six residential buildings are now complete, and residents have begun moving in. The entire development is expected to be finished by spring 2027. City officials say the project is the result of more than a decade of planning, public engagement and partnerships aimed at addressing housing affordability in the Hood River community.