Cherry Blossom Respite at the Mid-Columbia Senior Center in The Dalles is now operating. It’s a dementia-specific respite care program funded in part by a grant from the Center of Dementia Respite Innovation, designed to provide relief for caregivers supporting those living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Respite care provides caregivers time to rest while ensuring the person living with dementia receives safe and compassionate support. The program received a grant of over $13 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with the remaining funds coming from non-government sources. 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.
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February 13-14 Prep Sports Roundup
Swimming
Hood River Valley’s boys earned seven entries to next weekend’s Oregon Class 5A Championships and the girls’ six spots out of the Northwest Oregon Conference Championships. Luca Montague won both the girls’ 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke, while Felipe Mendez won the boys’ 100 breaststroke and Kane Wagner the 100 freestyle. HRV was also victorious in the girls’ 200 medley relay, girls’ 200 freestyle relay, and the boys’ 200 medley relay.
The Dalles gained eight boys’ entries and six girls’ entries for the state 4A Championships during the Special District 1 meet. Rhett Loughmiller won both the boys’ 100 backstroke and 200 freestyle. The Dalles boys’ 200 and 400 freestyle relays also won district titles, as did the girls’ 400 freestyle relay team.
Girls Wrestling
Hood River Valley’s Valeria Solorio Campos won all four of her matches to win the 155 pound division at the 6A/5A District 2 Tournament at Sandy, as three HRV wrestlers advanced to state. Solorio Campos won all four of her matches by fall, including in the final to defeat Dominica Rodela of Jefferson 2:15 into the match. Also earning spots in the state tournament in two weeks were Ayleen Marquez at 110 and Xiomara Gordian-Gomez at 155.
Boys Wrestling
The Dalles advanced three to state at the 4A District 4 Tournament in Madras. Harley Scott at 138, Aiden Flores at 144, and Kaedyn Linker at 215 all earned third place finishes to nail down their invitations to the state meet.
Girls Basketball
Columbia 44, Elma 43: The Bruins advance to the Southwest Washington Class 1A District Semi-Final. They will go on the road to take on Montesano on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Dufur 45, Trout Lake 40
Ione-Arlington 33, Sherman 28
Baker 65, The Dalles 50
Boys Basketball
Horizon Christian 61, Klickitat-Glenwood 53
Dufur 59, Trout Lake 29
Ione-Arlington 59, Sherman 56
One Killed In Highway 97 Accident
One man was killed in a head-on collision Thursday evening on Highway 97 north of Goldendale.
According to the Washington State Patrol, an SUV was northbound at milepost 16 just after 8 p.m. Thursday evening when it crossed the center line.
It then struck an on-coming truck and trailer.
The driver of the SUV was killed.
That person has not been identified, pending notification of next of kin.
The driver of the truck and trailer was uninjured.
It is not yet known if drugs or alcohol played a role in the accident.
QLife Receives $15 Million In Federal Funds
Q-Life has secured $15.2 million in federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment funding to bring high-speed fiber internet to 924 homes and businesses in Northern Wasco County.
The award is part of Oregon’s newly approved BEAD Final Proposal, authorized by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
QLife is one of 19 awardees chosen to help bring broadband to areas of Oregon that lack reliable service.
This project targets these eligible homes and businesses within the Northern Wasco County School District.
Under the BEAD program, QLife will install more than 30 miles of fiber broadband over the next four years, starting in the rural and unincorporated areas west and southwest of The Dalles, including neighborhoods near Chenoweth Creek, Cherry Heights and Browns Creek.
The network will also expand to upland areas between The Dalles and Mosier, along with select homes and businesses along the Columbia River on the east side of The Dalles.
The project is expected to support about 20 jobs.
The total project investment is approximately $20 million, including a required local match of about $5 million.
February 12 Prep Basketball Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
Canby 71, Hood River Valley 47
The Dalles 70, Madras 67
Fort Vancouver 87, Columbia 38: The Bruins will play in a loser-out game at Hoquiam on Tuesday evening.
Girls Basketball
Canby 52, Hood River Valley 49
The Dalles 49, Madras 46
Washington February 10 Vote: White Salmon School Bond Passing
The White Salmon Valley School District’s 20-year, 78-million dollar bond measure to create a K-12 campus at the current middle and high school location to replace the aging Whitson Elementary School is passing after the initial vote count Tuesday night.
Nearly 66 percent of voters had said yes…1,320 to 692…easily surpassing the 60 percent super majority threshold.
The district’s Educational Programs and Operations Levy had a nearly 69 percent approval rate…1,399 to 633.
The Klickitat County Auditor’s Office will release updated numbers later today.
Among other school district levy renewal measures…Lyle’s was passing 419 to 219…Glenwood’s was being approved 93 to 46…Trout Lake’s replacement enrichment levy was narrowly passing 187 to 175 while its capital levy for playground improvements also had a narrow majority, 183 to 178…and Centerville’s levy was passing 100 to 48…but Klickitat’s requested levy was failing 52 to 43.
The West Klickitat County Cemetery District levy lid lift was being approved 1,116 to 639.
In Skamania County…the Stevenson-Carson School District levy had seen 771 yes votes to 647 no…while the Skamania School District levy was being approved 92 to 60.
February 10 Prep Basketball Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
Southwest Washington District Play-In Game…Columbia 69, Rochester 57: The Bruins win a second straight must-win contest to advance to the double elimination district tournament. They will visit Fort Vancouver on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Lyle-Wishram 50, Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 39
South Wasco 95, Klickitat-Glenwood 35
Horizon Christian 64, Trout Lake 19
Girls Basketball
Trout Lake 48, Horizon Christian 16
Sherman 34, Central Christian 32
HR City To Study Sewer Feasibility For Lot 600 On Westcliff Drive
The Hood River City Council approved getting an estimate on what it would cost to extend sewer service to a municipally owned 2.35 acre parcel known as Lot 600 north of Interstate 84 on Westcliff Drive to develop affordable or mixed development housing. The question is whether Lot 600 is a part of Morrison Park, which based on City records is unclear, even though the property is zoned in the Comprehensive Plan for residential use. If it is a part of the park, that would require a public vote to develop, based on a charter amendment approved by voters in the aftermath of attempts to zone Morrison Park Lot 700 for housing a few years ago requiring it for any change in how designated park land is used. Urban Renewal Administrator Will Norris told the Council the sewer estimate will dictate whether it’s worth moving toward a vote. Councilor Doug Stepina termed researching the sewer cost as part of due diligence. The cost of the sewer estimate is $20,594.
Wasco County Putting Wolf Depredation Committee Back Together
Wasco County is reassembling its wolf depredation committee. That was one of the goals of County Commissioner Jeff Justesen when he took his position a little over a year ago. Justesen says three committee members were approved at the most recent Commission meeting, with another three still to come. He adds they need to get their funding request into the state by the end of the month. There is a proposal to add 1.25% to the state lodging tax for funding wildlife programs before the Legislature this session. That would include wolf depredation funds, but Justesen notes the bill faces an uncertain future with significant opposition.
HR County Seeks State Money For Courthouse Repair
Hood River County is seeking some state funding during the current legislative session to do needed repairs to the County Courthouse. County Administrator Allison Williams says they are seeking $1.5 million for the work, which will include repairing a leaking roof, parking lot improvements, and security measures. Oregon 52nd District State Representative Jeff Helfrich has submitted the request to get funds through the omnibus bill on the County’s behalf, and Williams says County officials will testify at a legislative hearing on Friday. Williams says this is just for basic repairs that are desperately needed, and there are many of other needs for the facility. The County has studied replacement of the Courthouse, but the cost has been found to be prohibitive.