A 24-year-old man was sentenced to 80 months in prison on various domestic violence charges in Wasco County. Wasco County District Attorney Matthew Ellis says Alexander Cruz Pola McGinnis pled guilty after a settlement conference this week. According to Ellis, in July 2023, Pola McGinnis drove the victim and their shared six-month old child out of The Dalles into orchard lands, assaulted his victim by punching and strangling her. Ellis says he threatened the child by pulling the child out of the car, placing her on the ground, and stomping around her head. The D.A. also said Pola McGinnis stripped his victim down, and then left her in the orchard, naked, and alone in the dark, and drove off with the infant. The victim feared for her life before a Good Samaritan discovered her near the road, walking in distress, and was able to take her back to town. Ellis praised the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office for its investigative work to apprehend Pola McGinnis, and the victim for testifying before the grand jury and actively engaging with the District Attorney’s office at the settlement conference, adding that took the power away from her abuser and brought the case to a peaceful final conclusion.
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Hood River Museum Fundraiser Sunday
The History Museum of Hood River County will hold a fundraiser on Sunday afternoon from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at The Ruins. New Museum executive director Lisa Commander says they will be celebrating the tenth-anniversary of the Hood River County Heritage Council, which oversees the museum. Tim Mayer’s All Jazz Considered will provide the music, and there will be birthday cake served. Tickets are $20 in advance at hoodriverhistorymuseum.org, or $25 at the door.
May 1 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
The Dalles 13, Madras 2: The Riverhawks scored eight runs in the first inning and cruised to the win. Nolan Donivan, Sam Shaver, and Cooper Cummings drove in two runs apiece as The Dalles stayed a half-game ahead of Crook County in the Tri-Valley Confernece.
Columbia split with King’s Way Christian, winning game one 10-9 on two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but losing the second contest 13-7.
Softball
The Dalles 15, Madras 0: Zoe LeBreton homered twice and drove in four runs to lead the Riverhawks to the win and nailing down the Tri-Valley Conference title. Jeliane Stewart and Ava Graves also had four RBI.
Columbia sweeps King’s Way Christian 10-0 and 13-0: Julia Mullinx had three hits in the opener, while Kiki Barkheimer drove in three runs in the nightcap.
Seton Catholic sweeps Stevenson 11-5 and 7-5.
Track and Field
Rowena Benjamin won three events to lead The Dalles girls over Gladstone and Molalla in a three-team Tri-Valley Conference meet in Molalla. David McCracken won a pair of events for the Riverhawk boys.
Boys Tennis
Hood River Valley defeats Canby in games 90-89 after the two teams tied at four matches and ten sets apiece.
Boys Lacrosse
Lincoln 19, Hood River Valley 6
Girls Lacrosse
Lincoln 15, Hood River Valley 12
April 30 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
LaSalle 3, Hood River Valley 2: Bodie Stuben and Maverick Hockett combined to limit LaSalle to six hits, but four errors cost the Eagles. Hockett also had two hits in the game.
Heppner 9, Sherman 2
Track and Field
Hood River Valley’s girls topped Parkrose & LaSalle in a Northwest Oregon Conference meet at Henderson Stadium, while the Eagle boys trailed LaSalle but topped Parkrose. Simone Tillman won a pair of events for the HRV girls.
Wasco County Commissioners Host First Meeting In New Home
Wasco County Commissioners held their first meeting in their new location Wednesday morning. The Commissioners met in the building at 401 East 3rd in The Dalles, which the County purchased to serve as a new home for many of its offices. Commission meetings in the past were held in the cramped room 302 in the Wasco County Courthouse. Commissioner Scott Hege hopes the new location will make their meetings more accessible to the public. During the meeting Commissioners, acting in their capacity as the Wasco County Library Service District board, decided to have discussions on revisions to the intergovernmental agreement with the City of The Dalles regarding how library costs are divided between the City and the District continue, as representatives of both parties remained apart on significant items in the IGA.
The Dalles Community Cleanup Saturday
The 36th annual Community Cleanup in The Dalles will take place on Saturday. Yard debris and large items, such as furniture, may be disposed of at the County yard at the corner of West 10th and Walnut on Saturday between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tires, kitchen garbage, items with refrigerant, hazardous waste, and e-waste are not accepted. Cynthia Keever of The Dalles Public Works says people bringing material to drop off are asked to drive into the yard from 10th Street, take a right on Walnut, and come in to the site from there. Canned food donations for local food banks will be accepted at the cleanup.
Wine Fest Set For Saturday
The Hood River County Education Foundation will host the Columbia Gorge Wine Festival this Saturday at the Hood River County Fairgrounds in Odell. Foundation board member Mike Schend says 16 area wineries will be at the event, that will also feature food carts, art and music. All proceeds benefit Hood River County Education Foundation projects. The event runs from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday at the Hood River County Fairgrounds. Tickets and additional information are available at hrcef.org.
OPRD Seeks Comment On Change To Correct Maupin Boundary Description
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is seeking public comment on a proposed rule change that would correct the city of Maupin’s boundary description in the Deschutes Scenic Waterway rule. The rule uses a description of Maupin’s city boundary that does not include land annexed in 1973. The later adopted Deschutes Scenic Waterway statute includes the city boundary with the annexed land. The discrepancy between the two was discovered when a proposed development in the Lower Deschutes State Scenic Waterway corridor raised the question regarding the statutory boundary. The proposed rule change would update the description of Maupin’s city boundary to reflect the boundary described in statute. Public comments on the proposed rule change will be accepted through May 31. Go to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department website for details. There will be no public hearing. Once the public comment period ends, the proposal with any incorporated updates is slated to go to Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission in June for possible adoption.
The Dalles Chip Seal Work Delayed
Work on The Dalles’ 2024 City Crack Seal Project on municipal streets has been delayed due to rainy weather in recent days. CR Contracting says application of sealant material cannot proceed effectively during wet weather. The project will be delayed until weather conditions permit the completion of this phase of work. The Dalles Public Works indicated the delay should not impact the overall timeline for project completion.
April 29 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
The Dalles 9, Estacada 0: Nolan Donivan drove in two runs with a triple during a five-run in the fifth inning. Finley Corbin drove in three runs on a pair of hits, as the Riverhawks took advantage of receiving ten walks.
Softball
The Dalles 12, Estacada 2: Ava Graves, Despina Seufalemua, Jeilani Stewart, and Keilani Crichton-Tunai all homered and drove in two runs apiece.
Seton Catholic 10, Columbia 0