The draft of revisions to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area management plan to modernize disaster recovery to address needs following the Rowena and Burdoin fires is now available for review at gorgecommission.org. Revisions include clearly identifying one-for-one replacement as an expedited permit, allowing up to ten years from the incident to permit and rebuild, increasing size thresholds to accommodate new manufacturing and building standards, and permits for temporary uses including storage structures and manufactured or RV home use. Wasco County will be hosting two community information sessions to share the proposed amendments, with the first on September 30th at 5pm at the Steve Kramer Board Room at 401 E 3rd in The Dalles. The session will include staff presentations, and the opportunity for one-on-one discussions. A virtual option will be available. A second information session is scheduled for the same location and time on November 6th. Columbia River Gorge Commission staff will be hosting a Klickitat County information session on October 6th at 6 p.m. at the Lyle Community Center. Public comment is open until October 22nd. The goal is to present the amendments to the Gorge Commission at their November 12th meeting.
Category: Uncategorized
Goldendale Woman Injured In Highway 14 Accident
A 33-year-old Goldendale woman was injured in a Highway 14 accident east of Home Valley on Monday afternoon. According to the Washington State Patrol, a car driven by the woman was traveling eastbound on Highway 14 at milepost 52, and attempted to pass a truck. The car struck the truck while attempting the pass. The driver of the car was taken to Skyline Hospital for treatment of undisclosed injuries. Two people in the truck were uninjured.
Toppenish Man Injured In Highway 97 Crash
A Toppenish man was taken to a hospital following a one-car accident on Highway 97 in Klickitat County. Washington State Patrol reports indicate a high performance vehicle was southbound on Highway 97 near milepost 5 at about 2:40 on Monday afternoon when it failed to negotiate a curve. The car rolled and came to rest in the northbound lane. The 35-year-old driver was taken to Klickitat Valley Hospital in Goldendale, and the WSP says he is facing a DUI charge. A 20-year-old passenger was not injured.
September 22 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Volleyball
Hood River Valley def. Wilsonville 25-22, 25-22, 25-21
Dufur def. Damascus Christian 25-20, 25-18, 26-24
Klickitat County Commission Considers Budget Shortfall
As Klickitat County deals with what is currently a $2.5 million shortfall in its proposed 2026 budget, County Commissioners are in the midst of a series of workshops to work on bringing the fiscal plan in balance. First-year Commissioner Todd Andrews notes the County does have good reserves, but they don’t want to dip into them. One possible option is a one percent sales tax for criminal justice services, which Andrews says he is hesitant to look to. Andrews believes the County is about three years from seeing improved revenues through economic growth.
City of HR Considers Police Home Again
Hood River City Councilors are hearing from Police Chief Neal Holste Monday evening to again visit the discussion of providing the police department with a more modern facility. The topic of constructing a new building for the HRPD has come up many times in the past. City Manager Abigail Elder says this time around, the option of renovating the department’s current home in the basement of City Hall will be part of what is considered. The discussion comes as the City Council embarks on a process to determine whether the City should go to voters with a bond measure in November of 2026.
CGCC Selected To Participate In Adult Learner Initiative
Columbia Gorge Community College is one of six educational institutions in the country selected to participate in the Rural Community College Adult Learner Engagement initiative, a new national project supported by Lumina Foundation, CollegeAPP, and StrategyForward Advisors. The two-year initiative focuses on developing and testing innovative strategies to support the more than 43 million U.S. adults between the ages of 25 and 64 who have not yet completed a post-secondary training or education program. CGCC vice president of student services Karly Aparicio says supporting adult learners in career training and retraining is central to the college’s mission, and being part of this initiative strengthens the school’s ability to reach adults 25 and older and connect them with the equitable access to education CGCC provides. Through this project, CGCC will analyze data to identify and reach adult learners across the region, implement targeted messaging and marketing strategies designed for adults, refresh brand strategies and student engagement tools, develop long-term plans to sustain enrollment momentum, and share lessons learned with peers in the cohort.
Paving Work On I-84 East Of The Dalles
Drivers should plan for delays on Interstate 84 east of The Dalles between mileposts 97 and 119 this week due to intermittent paving work in both directions. The Oregon Department of Tranpsortation says slow lane and shoulder closures will be in place daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to provide a safe work zone for crews. Additional minor delays may occur next Monday during pavement striping throughout the project area. This maintenance involves grind and inlay paving. Crews remove worn pavement and replace it with 2.5 inches of new asphalt. ODOT officials say this method is a key part of preserving road quality and extending the life of the interstate. For more details about pavement conditions across the state, visit ODOT’s pavement preservation website on the agency’s website.
The Dalles To Clean Stormwater Catch Basins In October
During the month of October, The Dalles Public Works crews will be cleaning stormwater catch basins throughout the City. Cleaning catch basins allows for efficient drainage into the storm water conveyance system. Crews will begin working from the east side of town toward Dry Hollow Road next week. By the week of October 6, crews expect to work from the west side of town toward Cherry Heights Road. Catch basins between Dry Hollow Road and Cherry Heights Road located south of 4th Street will be cleaned the week of October 13. Work will occur on weekdays between 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Residents are asked to park so that the catch basins are accessible during these hours. Temporary traffic controls may be put in place during work on any given catch basin. If you have questions, call The Dalles Public Works office at (541) 296-5401.
September 19-20 Prep Sports
Football
Hood River Valley 51, Putnam 0
Culver 72, Columbia 18
Stevenson 44, Fort Vancouver 0
Dufur 34, Elgin 28
Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 46, Cove 6
Sherman 53, Huntington 6
Boys Soccer
The Dalles 6, Astoria 0
Girls Soccer
The Dalles 7, Astoria 0
Volleyball
South Wasco def. Mannahouse Christian 25-12, 25-23, 25-22
South Wasco def. Open Door Academy 23-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-23
Hood River Valley lost to Westview, Century, and Putnam at Westview Tournament
Sherman def. Prairie City, Umatilla, Cove, and Irrigon to win the Condon Tournament. Horizon Christian def. Umatilla to win one out of four matches in the tourney.
King’s Way Christian def. Stevenson 3-0
Cross Country
Tyson Long was ninth to help The Dalles boys to a fifth place finish at the Three-Course Challenge in Seaside. Columbia’s Lilah Zimmerman was fifth, and Stevenson’s Daisy Jones 12th, in the girls’ race.
Trout Lake’s Melody Stock won the girls’ race by nearly 90 seconds at the Southwest Christian Invitational. The Mustangs’ Nehemiah Davis was 11th in the boys’ race.