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Klickitat County Childcare Committee Adds Two Liaisons

Posted on by mbailey

The Klickitat County Childcare Committee has received a pair of grants totaling $95,000 to expand county-wide and contract with two liaisons to assist people interested in going through the licensing process to become childcare providers.  Washington Gorge Action Programs’ Jennifer Pauletto says one of the liaisons is focused on the Latino community to do outreach to Spanish-speaking communities in Klickitat County.  The Committee is continuing to work on finding a location in Goldendale to construct a child care facility that received funding from the Washington Legislature in 2022.

 

NORCOR Plans Job Fair April 6

Posted on by mbailey

The Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility in The Dalles is holding a job fair on April 6.  NORCOR Business Manager Nichole Biechler says there are a number of available positions at both their adult jail facility and juvenile detention center.  She adds people just need to bring their resume, and NORCOR will be doing interviews on site.  Full job descriptions can be found at norcor.co.  The job fair will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 6 at NORCOR’s juvenile facility on 211 Webber Street in The Dalles.  For more information call 541-298-1117.

Harris Semiconductor Bill Signed By Inslee

Posted on by mbailey

Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed into law a bipartisan bill from 17th District State Rep. Paul Harris that will provide a boost to the semiconductor industry in Washington.  House Bill 2482 will extend two tax preferences for semiconductor manufacturing until Jan. 1, 2034.  The legislation also reinstates six tax preferences that expired at the start of this year and extends them for 10 years, contingent on new industry investment.  Under House Bill 2482, the six expired tax preferences will be reinstated contingent upon the construction of a new semiconductor manufacturing fabrication facility built by Jan. 1, 2034, with an investment of at least $500 million in buildings and equipment.  In 2022 the semiconductor industry created $2.5 billion in wages and is the eighth largest export for Washington at $898 million.  Semiconductor manufacturing jobs are expected to double in the next 10 years.   Additionally, out of the 50,632 semiconductor manufacturing jobs in Washington, 55% are in Clark County.  The bill contains an emergency clause and will take effect immediately.

HR Council To Proceed With Hotel Expansion Program

Posted on by mbailey

Hood River City Councilors told municipal staff to proceed with development of a proposed program that would allow hotels that expand their room capacity to be able to recoup certain qualified costs utilizing transient lodging taxes generated by the hotel development three years after completion.  Municipal staff are proposing the program as a way bring in more TLT monies as the City deals with tax revenues that are not keeping pace with the cost of providing services.  City Finance Director Chris Longetti says the program would not be a front-end subsidy, upfront costs are not covered, there would have to be some kind of public benefit, and once the project is finished only certain costs like systems development charges can be recovered.  The Council told staff to bring back a full proposal for potential adoption.

Hood River Mural Ordinance Nears Completion

Posted on by mbailey

The Hood River City Council decided to have staff develop an ordinance governing murals that would allow them in the Downtown Historic District with some limitations.  Under this option, murals on Oak Street with a 75 foot buffer and on designated historic structures will be prohibited.  Councilors had earlier asked for draft language governing murals to limit height, ensuring building owners cannot be compensated for displaying a mural, make sure they are not reflective, and have no moving parts or lighting.

 

CGCC To Start Athletic Program With Cross Country

Posted on by mbailey

Columbia Gorge Community College is making its first foray into athletic competition.  CGCC will be launching men’s and women’s cross country teams to compete in the Northwest Athletics Conference this fall.  Vice President of Student Services Mike Espinoza is directing the athletic launch, noting the school’s location in the Gorge with miles of picturesque roads, world-class trail-running, and a hearty community of outdoor enthusiasts.  The NWAC is the largest community college conference in the country, with 36 member schools in the Pacific Northwest.  New CGCC President Kenneth Lawson said athletic programs support student engagement and success, provide an avenue for student athletes to continue to compete at a high level, and foster strong community connections.

HR Schools To Hold Meeting On Science Materials April 15

Posted on by mbailey

The Hood River County School District will hold a public meeting on proposed science instructional materials for grades K-12 in mid-April.  A committee has been working since October 2023 to find instructional materials that align with equitable Science teaching practices, with teacher teams across the school district investigating new and innovative science materials.  The goal is to find engaging materials that support the district’s science standards while also offering hands-on experiences and experiments for students to explore concepts.  The public meeting will be on April 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the Nathaniel Coe Administrative Center on 1011 Eugene Street in Hood River.  Materials can be viewed online at the district’s website.

Federal Funds For Chenowith Housing Project Boost Hopes For State Money

Posted on by mbailey

A proposed Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation project to develop 75-units of affordable housing on Chenowith Loop in The Dalles received a boost with the recent appropriation of $3 million in federal funds.  CCHC Executive Director Joel Madsen says the appropriation is a fraction on what is needed to make the project happen, but it does provide some leverage for more substantial funding from the state of Oregon.  The development would target low-income residents, but also provide housing and services to veterans, families, and households experiencing severe and persistent mental health challenges.

 

Truck Driver Injured In Highway 14 Accident

Posted on by mbailey

A Yakima truck driver was taken to a hospital after an accident Tuesday morning near the Highway 14 junction with Highway 97 in Klickitat County.  According to the Washington State Patrol the commercial truck and trailer driven by 50-year-old Matthew Mitchell was traveling on eastbound Highway 14 to southbound Highway 97 when he lost control, and the truck and trailer rolled before coming to rest in the roadway.  Mitchell was transported to Klickitat Valley Hospital in Goldendale with undisclosed injuries.  The accident happened shortly after 8:10 Tuesday morning.  The WSP indicated that speed was the cause of the accident.

HR County Discusses Annexation Position

Posted on by mbailey

Hood River County Commissioners talked about annexation options for housing development during a Monday worksession, but ended with a question of whether the City of Hood River is open to initiating annexations and if a planned joint meeting in June would be productive.  Commissioner Arthur Babitz has been a proponent of analyzing whether City-initiated annexations would provide more opportunities to achieve affordable housing.  County Planning Director Eric Walker did say it could make sense for the City to annex already developed properties.  But some City officials have indicated preferring to continue with a strategy of property owner-initiated annexation applications, believing those provide leverage to negotiate provisions for affordable housing.  A joint City-County meeting has been planned for early June, but Babitz noted if the City has already determined its direction, it might not be worth having.  Commission Chair Jennifer Euwer and County Administrator Allison Williams said they would talk with municipal officials about how to proceed.

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