New Hood River County Administrator Allison Williams is getting settled into the position. Williams started last Monday. She says her first order of business is to get to know the organization, meeting with members of various departments. Williams’ first County Commission meeting will be December 18. She succeeds Jeff Hecksel, who has retired. Williams spent a number of years working for the City of Wenatchee…and most recently was City Manager in Moses Lake.
Swimming
Hood River Valley dominated Parkrose, winning the boys half of the meet 88-6 and the girls’ portion 82-21. The Eagles won every race in the meet.
Boys Basketball
Grant Union 79, Trout Lake 50
Girls Basketball
Riverside 44, Trout Lake 22
Officials at the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility are reporting an adult in custody was found deceased early Thursday morning. NORCOR officials did not have additional details at this time. In a statement, NORCOR indicated The Dalles Police Department, sheriff’s offices in Wasco and Sherman counties, the Oregon State Police, and the Wasco County Medical Examiner are all involved with investigating the cause of death, which is underway.
North Wasco County School District 21 held a worksession to discuss the next steps after last month’s defeat of a $140 million bond measure that would have primarily been used to build a new high school in The Dalles. The two-hour discussion was part debrief of the past election and measure, and part brainstorming on what could pass muster for district voters. One key element is whether an effective campaign for a measure on the May ballot could be put together. D-21 board member Judy Richardson summarized some of what has to be examined, including putting available property the district holds on the market, whether to go back on the ballot in May to build on momentum from the November vote, should new polling be done, and trying to reduce the cost of the bond. The D-21 board next meets in regular session next Thursday (December 14) at 6 p.m. at The Dalles Middle School.
The annual holiday fire truck parades in Hood River County will take place next week, with area fire departments lighting up their apparatus for the yearly tradition. It kicks off Monday night in the Odell/Pine Grove area, with a static display at the Odell Fire Station from 6 to 6:15 before the trucks weave their way down a myriad of roads before winding up for the night with a static display at the China Gorge Restaurant and Carpool lot. Tuesday the trucks will be in the Parkdale/Dee area, staring with a static display from 6 to 6:15 at the Parkdale station before parading through both communities and stopping with a static display at the Dee Fire Station. The parade will be in Hood River and the Westside area Wednesday, staging at Westside Fire Station 1 at 6 p.m., moving towards a static display at Westside Elementary at 6:45 and then moving through Hood River before finishing at the Front and State parking lots for a static display. And then on Thursday the trucks go to Cascade Locks, staging at the fire department at 6 p.m. and then parading through the town.
Boys Basketball
Hood River Valley 60, Heritage 59: Matthew Fauth scored with 2.8 seconds remaining to give the Eagles their second straight win to start the season. Sawyer Clemett and Ben Bauman scored 14 points apiece to lead HRV, while Brooks Greenwald scored 15 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter for Heritage.
Columbia 83, Klickitat-Glenwood 47
Girls Basketball
Hood River Valley 54, Heritage 32
Boys Wrestling
Canby 65, Hood River Valley 18
Hood River Valley 61, Woodburn 12: Connor Farlow and Reese Reierson had a pair of wins for HRV.
Beginning on January 1, Mt. Hood climbers going above an elevation of 9,500 ft. will need a climbing permit. The Mt. Hood Climbing Permit will be available for online purchase as a single trip three-day pass for $20, or an annual pass for $50. The Forest Service says permit fees will fund additional climbing rangers, climbing safety information, and natural resources protection. Every year around 10,000 people attempt to climb Mt. Hood, and in the spring and summer, it is not uncommon for visitors with little or no mountaineering experience to attempt to climb the 11,240-ft. peak. Information from the permit system will also help the forest determine program improvements into the future. No advance reservations are needed. Climbing permits will be available for purchase on Recreation.gov beginning January 1, up to the start of one’s climb. There is no limit on the number of permits issued. More information is available on the Mt. Hood National Forest website.
After the recent death of a young person in The Dalles, YouthThink is reminding people of the importance of asking the question “are you thinking about suicide?” YouthThink executive director Debby Jones says some people are concerned asking that question will put the thought in someone’s head, but research shows that won’t happen. She says if the person says they are thinking about suicide, there are resources available to help. Jones notes if you want help in how to ask the question…call the YouthThink office at 541-506-2673, or if you don’t feel like you can ask the question, find someone who can.
For the first time since it began grantmaking in 2003, the Gorge Community Foundation’s annual grantmaking has reached half a million dollars in a single year.
Foundation Executive Director Jill Burnette made the announcement after December grants were approved by the board of directors at its Monday board meeting. The grants included $393,000 in grants to local organizations and $107,000 in scholarships, all issued during calendar year 2023. Board Chair Gil Sharp said it was remarkable achievement for a small community foundation, and a testament to the generosity of fundholders and the strength of our region’s non-profit organizations. Gorge Community Foundation donor advisors may grant 5% of their fund’s balance each year to qualified non-profit, municipal, and educational institutions. Donor advisors choose a wide variety of causes for their support, including arts and culture, environment, education, youth, health care, sports, animal welfare, seniors, food security, and social services. They are welcome to make contributions to any qualified organizations of their choice with GCF board approval, but most choose to focus their giving in the six counties that comprise the Gorge.
Girls Basketball
Columbia 37, Fort Vancouver 19: Sheyanne Antis scored 11 points to lead the Bruins to the non-league victory.
