The Wasco County Cultural Trust Coalition announced the recipients of its 2024 Cultural grants. This year’s grant recipients and activities include the NORCOR Juvenile Facility for “Cultural Connections with Youth in Custody”; The Dalles – Wasco County Public Library for a “Mysterious Escape Room – Historic The Dalles Edition”; The Makerspace 97058 for a public launch and fundraising events; Southern Wasco County Library for “Live History Interactive Theatre”; The Dalles Overground for “Sound Series: Balsamroot Edition”, an event featuring Native poets, writers, and musicians; the South Wasco County School District Theatre Program for its 2024 Spring Show “Game of Tiaras” which will incorporate community volunteers and actors; and The Dalles Art Center for its “School of Fish Community Art Project” which will provide take home art kits to then create an installation of a school of fish. Funds for the annual grants are provided by the Oregon Cultural Trust. There will be a public reception on Friday, March 1st at 6 pm at The Dalles Art Center.
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Initial Spring Chinook Seasons Set
Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington adopted initial recreational spring Chinook seasons on the Columbia River during a joint state hearing Wednesday. The season will run from March 1 to April 5 downstream of Bonneville Dam, and from April 1 to May 5 from Bonneville Dam to the Oregon-Washington state line upstream of McNary Dam. Catch rates and fishery performance will be monitored in season. Additional fishing days may be added after an in-season update of the expected upriver spring Chinook run size in mid to late May. Prior to an in-season run size update, the fishery downstream of Bonneville Dam will be managed for a guideline of approximately 3,900 upriver spring Chinook, and the fishery between Bonneville Dam and the Oregon/Washington state line will be managed for a guideline of just under 600 upriver spring Chinook. Forecasts for several 2024 spring Chinook stocks are down from last year’s actual returns and are lower than 10-year average returns.
Wellness Town Hall Monday
The Mid-Columbia Center for Living, Hood River County Health Department, and Oregon Health Authority will host a community town hall focused on wellness this Monday evening. Organizers say the purpose of the event is to offer a space where the community can collectively work toward hope, healing, and emotional wellness. It’s designed for parents, guardians, youth, and other individuals who have a young person in their life who may be grieving. It will provide information on resources on support to help navigate through the challenges of grief and loss. The town hall will be Monday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Best Western Hood River Inn. Spanish interpretation is available, and childcare will be provided. The speaker portion of the event will begin at 6 p.m. and be live-streamed for those individuals who are unable to attend in person. Register to receive the live stream link by visiting Eventbrite.com.
Lions Follies Returns After Five-Year Absence
After a five-year absence, the Mid-Columbia Lions Follies returns to the stage next week. “Let’s Get It Started” will be the theme of this year’s musical and comedy variety show put on by community members to benefit the Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation. The Follies’ Amy Maddy says some of the material comes from the experiences of the last five years. The Lions Follies will perform Friday and Saturday nights on March 1st and 2nd, and the 8th and the 9th, at 7 p.m. at the Hood River Middle School Auditorium, with a matinee on Sunday, March 3 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students 12 and under, and available at Waucoma Bookstore, Key Bank on the Hood River Heights, and online at olshf.org.
February 21 Prep Basketball Scoreboard
Oregon Class 1A Girls Basketball Tournament
First Round
Trout Lake 48, Mohawk 16
Crosshill Christian 39, South Wasco 32
Girls Basketball
Wilsonville 70, Hood River Valley 47
Boys Basketball
Wilsonville 58, Hood River Valley 40
Wasco Commissioners Ask For More Work On Code Compliance Revisions
Wasco County Commissioners asked planning staff to go through another round of work in the effort to amend the County’s code compliance ordinance and streamline the enforcement program. That after a heavily attended hearing Wednesday with farm and ranch owners concerned the changes could endanger some of their farm practices without more explicit language to protect them. County Planner Kelly Howley-Glover did point out the County’s land use ordinances already provides for farm and forest exemptions. Commissioner Scott Hege thinks some clarifying language would be helpful, to make that clear. There was some testimony on parts of the code compliance ordinance that is not being revised, and Howsley-Glover noted if the Commission wanted to review the whole ordinance it would be a much lengthier process. Commissioners were clear they did not want to do that, and scheduled an update on the topic for March 20.
Port Of HR To Continue Consideration Of Lower Mill RV Park
The Port of Hood River Commission decided to continue considering an RV park on its Lower Mill property targeted towards housing for construction workers when a new Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge is erected, even though a concept of an over 100-space facility did not pencil out. Commissioner Mike Fox suggested looking at a smaller 40-space park with fewer improvements, adding agencies around the region need to consider the need for bridge construction worker housing will probably require in the vicinity of 300 units. Commissioner Kristi Chapman said they need to focus on getting the message to other governmental bodies and the community of what the need will be. Fox noted the purpose of an RV park at the Lower Mill site would not be for the Port to make money, but to help the community protect available housing.
White Salmon Schools Continue Strategic Planning Effort
The White Salmon Valley School District is starting to wrap up gathering input from staff, students, parents, and community members in its strategic planning process. Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says the district has begun to develop goals as a result of the input, and should have some to discuss at the next public input meeting on February 27 at 6:30 at Henkle Middle School. Polkinghorn noted two areas that have stood out during input sessions: a desire to enhance the district’s financial stability and plan for improvement of aging facilities.
One Arrested On Stolen Vehicle Charge In Skamania County
One person was arrested on a possession of a stolen vehicle charge in Skamania County. The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office says that an Audi Q5 had been associated with the possible sale of narcotics in the Carson area on Sunday, and then on Tuesday deputies responded to an assault report in Stevenson involving someone throwing a license plate at the victim. A check of the plate came back as connected to Audi, and that it had been stolen out of Portland. The vehicle was then located at the Carson Springs Apartments with switched place. When the car left the apartment complex, deputies conducted a traffic stop and arrested the driver, Tasha Wilson of Carson. Wilson was booked into the Skamania County Jail on the stolen vehicle possession charge. The Sheriff’s Office says the investigation is on-going, and more arrests could be made.
Fire Near Encampment
Police and fire crews in The Dalles responded to a Tuesday afternoon fire at an outdoor encampment east of Interstate 84 exit 82. The Dalles Police Department says the fire occurred at around 1:45 in the afternoon. Response was complicated by difficult road conditions and the remoteness of the encampment. No injuries were reported, with officers responding to offer services to anyone displaced by the fire.