Nurses at Providence hospitals across Oregon, including Hood River, are in negotiations now or will be in the near future at six Providence facilities. Brittany Foss is a registered nurse at Providence Hood River. She says there’s commonality in their demands across the six facilities, including lower health insurance costs, competitive wages, safe staffing and workplace safety. Foss notes that nurses at Hood River and Medford want pay parity with the Portland Metro Area facilities. Management has argued that the cost of living in those areas is lower, but Foss counters that nurses at smaller hospitals are expected to know more because they see a wider range of patients. A spokesperson with Providence says the company has “locally focused, market-competitive wage and benefit packages.”
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Knox Leaving Adventist Health After Position Is Eliminated
Dennis Knox, who oversaw the transition of Mid-Columbia Medical Center to Adventist Health Columbia Gorge during his seven years as President and CEO of the hospital in The Dalles, will be leaving that post on Thursday. Knox told Adventist Health Columbia Gorge employees in an email late last week that his position had been eliminated as of this Thursday. Knox said in the e-mail that to remain viable, healthcare organizations have seen an increase in “flattening,” which shrinks the organization by removing layers of the hierarchy. He said Adventist Health Portland President Kyle King will become President of the newly named Adventist Health Oregon Service Area, while the former President of the Oregon State Network, Joyce Newmyer, will become the organization’s Chief People Officer. Knox noted all other Adventist Health Columbia Gorge leadership team members remain in place at this time. Knox’s career in health care has spanned 45 years, including the last seven in The Dalles.
April 22 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Crook County 4, The Dalles 1: The Cowboys took the lead for good with a two-run second inning to break a tie for first place in the Tri-Valley Conference. Cody
Agidius had two of the four Riverhawk hits. The two teams play again Wednesday at Quintion Street Park.
Softball
The Dalles 8, Crook County 2: A five-run fourth inning broke the game open as the Riverhawks grabbed sole possession of first place in the Tri-Valley Conference. Ava Graves drove in two runs. The two teams play again on Wednesday in Prineville.
Boys Tennis
Hood River Valley 8, West Salem 0
Girls Lacrosse
Ida B. Wells 16, Hood River Valley 12
Hood River Budget Committee Starts Work May 1
The City of Hood River’s Budget Committee will start its work next week. City Manager Abigail Elder says the municipal fiscal picture, at least in the short term, is secure. She adds that in the future as costs increase, there will be decisions that have to be made. The budget committee will meet on Wednesday, May 1 at 6 p.m. in Hood River City Hall, and will also do so the following two Wednesdays. The May 15 meeting will also include deliberations on the Urban Renewal Agency budget. A copy of the budget documents will be available at cityofhoodriver.gov on or before May 1.
Anderson Says Cost-Benefit Analysis For Jail Will Take Time
It will take some time before the fact-finding process to develop a cost benefit analysis of the Klickitat County Jail is complete. Commissioner Jacob Anderson said Monday they are awaiting Sheriff Bob Songer’s response to eight pages of questions about the Jail that the Commission sent to him. Anderson adds once they have the information before them they will have three options: do nothing, create a Department of Corrections that would see the County Commission oversee the jail, or close the jail and contract with another entity. He adds the jail continues to see its costs increase, like other parts of government. Anderson added he believes changing to better meet the mental health needs of inmates will need to be a part of any decision that gets made.
April 19-20 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Hood River Valley 4, Putnam 2: Bodie Stuben’s bases-loaded double in the fourth inning provided what would prove to be the game-winning runs, while Grady Williams pitched a complete game as the Eagles took two out of three from the Kingsmen.
Nelson 7, The Dalles 2: Two-run innings in the fourth, fifth, and seventh lifted the Hawks to the win.
Castle Rock 12, Columbia 0
Irrigon sweeps Dufur 16-1 and 11-4
Cle Elum-Roslyn sweeps Goldendale 8-3 and 6-0
Softball
Hood River Valley 4, Wilsonville 3: Adamari Lazaro’s two-run double capped a four-run comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning to hand the Wildcats’ their first Northwest Oregon Conference loss of the season. Grace Rowan struck out 14 for the Eagles.
Columbia 9, Castle Rock 4: Joella Posini had three hits and drove in three runs to lead the Bruins to the Trico League victory.
LaCenter 17, Stevenson 8
Goldendale sweeps Cle Elum-Roslyn 28-26 and 22-3: A 20-run fifth inning brought the Timberwolves back from a 23-8 deficit in game one…and Goldendale controlled game two with a 13-run first inning.
Track and Field
Stevenson won the boys’ title and host Trout Lake topped the girls’ standings at the Jeff Agar Invitational. Tucker Wyninger won a pair of events for the Stevenson boys…while Olivia Fauth won three events for the Stevenson girls.
Raymond Holylcross won a pair of events to lead the Goldendale boys to a fourth place finish at the Quincy Invitational.
Boys Lacrosse
Grant 5, Hood River Valley 3
Girls Lacrosse
Westview 13, Hood River Valley 11
Cherry Festival Weekend Arrives
It is Northwest Cherry Festival weekend in The Dalles. The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson says this will be one of the busiest Cherry Festivals that they’ve ever had. The Rainier Amusements Carnival started Friday, with the Open Air Market and the Entertainment Stage both coming to life later in the day. The parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday morning at 6th and Webber, and will follow the usual downtown. The festival continues through Sunday. You can get a Cherry Festival guide at gorgeradio.com, and there is more information at thedalleschamber.com.
Wasco County Commission Approves Amended Wildfire Plan
Wasco County Commissioners approved an amended Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The amendments include updated wildfire mitigation projects developed from a survey of fire agencies in the County. Putting them in the plan will set the County up to seek state and federal funds to do the projects. County Planning Director Kelly Howsley-Glover says the County is seeking a Forest Service grant to fund a wildfire coordinator position to initiate a comprehensive education and outreach strategy for wildfire mitigation and preparedness.
Vancouver Man Dies In Highway 14 Accident
A Vancouver man died in a one-vehicle accident late Thursday night on Washington Highway 14 in western Skamania County. According to the Washington State Patrol, the SUV driven by 31-year-old Zane Ruby was traveling west on Highway 14 at milepost 29 west of North Bonneville when the accident occurred just before 11:15 Thursday night. The WSP says Ruby’s vehicle left the roadway, struck a tree, and came to rest on the eastbound shoulder. Ruby was declared deceased at the scene of the accident. The WSP says he was not wearing a seatbelt.
April 18 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
The Dalles 16, Molalla 11: The Riverhawks scored 14 runs over the final three innings to grab the win. Sam Shaver drove in four runs to lead the offense for The Dalles.
Pendleton JV swept Sherman 15-1 and 11-0
Softball
The Dalles 18, Molalla 0: Maddie Brock homered, had three hits, and drove in five runs. The Riverhawks also received home runs from Jeilane Stewart, Sydney Newby, and Keilani Crichton-Tunai.
Boys Tennis
Madras 7, The Dalles 1
Girls Tennis
Madras 5, The Dalles 3