The Next Door Inc. has named John Fine and Colleen Ballinger as its 2023 Volunteers of the Year. John Fine has been a long-time volunteer at The Next Door, donating his time for the better part of a decade. Most recently, he supported The Next Door’s marketing and development team in implementing a new donation software system in 2023. Colleen Ballinger has been involved as a mentor in the Gorge Youth Mentoring Program since 2006. During that time, she has supported three youth and has been paired with her current mentee for five years. To learn more about volunteering or becoming a mentor, visit nextdoorinc.org, call 541-386-6665, or stop by one of The Next Door’s offices at 965 Tucker Road in Hood River or 1113 Kelly Avenue in The Dalles.
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Houseless Collaborative Issues Annual Report
The Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative’s recently released 2023 annual report shows over 1,000 people at risk of eviction did not lose their housing last year with help from community partners. The report tracks the community impact of the Collaborative work to reduce and end houselessness in the bi-state Mid-Columbia River Gorge region. A major highlight of the report was the Yakama Nation Housing Authority completing the development of 46 new affordable housing units dedicated to tribal members in the spring of 2023. One 2023 project of note was the preservation of Rhine Village apartments in White Salmon, where 36 affordable housing units have been acquired with plans for rehabilitation. The Wishram Heights development was celebrated as a step toward increasing the supply of units that low-income households can afford to rent. A major push to increase accessibility of services for houseless clients was made by expanding the number of Community Health Workers. Mid-Columbia Community Action added 12 staff to the list of those certified as CHWs to reach more people at risk of experiencing houselessness.
Fire Open House Schedule For White Salmon
The City of White Salmon, Underwood Conservation District, and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources are partnering to host an informational open house regarding what residents can do to minimize wildfire risks. The community meeting will be held Tuesday at the White Salmon Fire Hall located at 119 NE Church Avenue from 5:30 to 7:30 in the evening. This is an opportunity for residents to learn what its local fire department and other partners are working on to improve resiliency to wildfire, and what residents can do to prepare their home and family.
April 17 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Hood River Valley 3, Putnam 2: Kingston McAdam’s double drove home Grady Williams with the game winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Eagles to the Northwest Oregon Conference victory. Addison Postlewait gave up only four hits in going the distance on the mound.
The Dalles 13, Molalla 4: Will Booth drove in three runs while Avery Schwartz struck out nine over five innings. The Riverhawks took advantage of eight Molalla errors.
Softball
The Dalles 17, Molalla 0: Maddie Brock homered and drove in six runs, while Jeilane Stewart and Kaleyah Crichton-Tunai also hit home runs for The Dalles in the game that was shortened to four innings.
Track and Field
Both The Dalles boys and girls won a three-school Tri-Valley Conference meet over Estacada and Crook County. Alana Casady, Madelyn Harrison, Rowena Benjamin, and Noah Preston won two events each for the Riverhawks.
Columbia was first and Stevenson second in the girls’ portion of the Bruin Invitational. The Bruins’ Jessica Polkinghorn and Saylor Hague won two events apiece. In the boys’ portion of the meet Stevenson took third and Columbia fourth as Castle Rock won the team title.
Boys Tennis
Hood River Valley 5, Centennial 3
Wasco County Commissioners Support Growers In Housing Rules Fight
Wasco County Commissioners pledged their support as local orchardists fight proposed rules by Oregon OSHA the growers say are not based in health and safety, costly, not reasonable, and not within the agency’s purview. Lesley Tamura of the Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers gave a presentation to the Commission on Wednesday, saying the orchardists are in favor of better enforcement of the current housing rules, and the proposed new regulations would result in reduced housing availability. County Commission Chair Steve Kramer said he would ask the Association of Oregon Counties to take a role in the issue. Commissioners also said they would look to have one of them attend an upcoming OSHA hearing on the proposed rules.
Wasco County Commission Meetings Move To New Location May 1
Wasco County Commission meetings are about to move into a new home. County Commissioners announced Wednesday that beginning with their May 1 meeting, they will hold meetings in the County’s new office space at 401 East 3rd. For years the Commissioners have held the bulk of their meetings in a small room in the Wasco County Courthouse with limited public seating. The new board room will be accessed using the building entrance on Federal Street, which will have Wasco County signage. The County says there is ample seating, and ADA compliant restrooms will be available for those who attend.
WS Schools Partners With ESD For CTE Courses
The White Salmon Valley School District is partnering with Educational Service District 112 to bring an additional six Career and Technical Education courses to Columbia High School, and other schools in Klickitat and Skamania counties, next fall. White Salmon District Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says the district was approached by the ESD to act as a hub for the CTE Rural Cooperative Program for offering the live synchronous online classes in the region. The CTE Rural Cooperative is being designed to expand upon the original courses to create CTE Graduation Pathways.
Cherry Fest Honors Orchard Industry
The Northwest Cherry Festival will be honoring members of The Dalles area’s orchard community this weekend. The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson says Ken and Elizabeth Polehn are King Bing and Queen Anne for this year, while Brenda and Sterling Thomas will act as grand marshals. The NW Natural Cherry Festival Parade starts at 6th and Webber on Saturday morning at 10 a.m., and works its way through The Dalles. You can get a Cherry Festival guide at gorgeradio.com.
HR County Commission Approves Preparing For November Levy Vote
Hood River County Commissioners approved preparing documents to place renewal of the five-year public safety levy before voters in November. The action doesn’t fully commit the Commission to putting the levy on the general election ballot. Commissioner Arthur Babitz says discussions during the upcoming budget process will help inform that decision. Commissioner Leti Moretti noted the November date would allow the County a second chance in the May 2025 election before the budget impacts of the loss of the levy would be felt.
River Road Improvements Begin Thursday
Work on the River Road Frontage Improvements project in The Dalles will begin Thursday and continue into the month of June. Crestline Construction Company says intermittent one lane road closures and five-to-10 minute delays can be expected throughout the duration of this project. Construction & signage will be segmental as construction progresses along River Road between the former rodeo grounds and the northwestern entrance of Crates Way. Construction will be starting on the southern end of Crates Way near Klindt Drive. Motorists are asked to avoid the area when possible and prepare for short delays during the construction.