The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is reminding hunters that Chronic Wasting Disease check stations are mandatory to stop at if you pass one along the highway or interstate while transporting a harvested deer or elk. A check station will be open at Celilo Park off Interstate 84 exit 97 this Saturday through Monday from 9 a.m. to dusk each day. In addition, the ODFW office at 3701 West 13th in The Dalles is available for advance appointments, and will have a collection barrel for hunters to drop off heads for examination. CWD was detected in northern Idaho in 2021 near the Oregon border. It is always fatal to deer and elk and there is no cure. If it is detected, ODFW will implement its response plan to contain the spread of CWD. For more information, go to myodfw.com.
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Wasco County Certifies Tax Assessments
Wasco County certified over $53.41 million in property tax assessments for this year. The County’s assessment and taxation office says assessed values were calculated upward the annual 3% unless additional changes were made to a property. New construction, remodels, additions, etc., may increase the assessed value more than 3%. Tax statements were mailed ten days ago, and first payments are due on November 15. Real market values continued to trend upward during 2022 for most residential properties in Wasco County. Commercial properties shifted back down slightly this year according to market sales. Tax or value information is available online on the Assessment and Taxation page on the Wasco County website.
D21 Election Returns Remain High
Ballots in the North Wasco County School District 21 bond measure vote continue to be returned. Wasco County Chief Deputy Clerk Chrissy Zaugg says as of the end of Tuesday, they had received 4,184 ballots back. That’s out of 14,617 eligible voters, for a return rate of 28.62%. By comparison, the return rate at this time in the 2022 general election was 24.18%. Ballots must be postmarked or returned to the County Courthouse or place in authorized drop boxes by November 7. D-21 is asking voters to approve a 30-year, 140-million dollar bond measure to build a new high school at the Wahtonka campus.
Economic Symposium Friday
Mid-Columbia Economic Development District is holding its annual Columbia Gorge Economic Symposium this Friday in the Gorge Pavilion at Port of Cascade Locks Marina Park. MCEDD Executive Director Jessica Metta says this year’s keynote speaker is futurist Steve Brown to discuss artificial intelligence. The symposium’s business panel includes representatives from Skamania Lodge, Orchard View Farms, Full Sail Brewing, Insitu and other companies to talk about challenges and opportunities within their respective industries. The event also includes presentations about local economic conditions. The event will be held Friday from 8:30 to noon, and to purchase tickets to go to mcedd.org.
The Dalles To Consider STR Moratorium
City officials in The Dalles is considering a moratorium on issuing permits for short-term rentals. City Manager Matthew Klebes says municipal staff are working on putting together a moratorium of up to one year on new short-term rentals to bring back to City Councilors and provide some time to go through their options for STR regulation revisions. Klebes expects staff will have a moratorium document to present to the Council by the end of the year with the goal of a January start date.
Sting Nets Two On Luring Charges
The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office led a multi-agency luring operation in Cascade Locks in late October that resulted in the arrest of two individuals. The Sheriff’s Office says on October 21st, detectives conducted a luring sting with the assistance of the Oregon State Police, Hood River and The Dalles Police, Sherman and Wasco County Sheriff’s Offices, and Homeland Security. The Sheriff’s Office says 26-year-old Abel Cornejo-Reyes of Hillsboro was arrested on charges of Luring a Minor, First Degree Online Sexual Corruption of a Minor, and probation violations. In addition, 58-year-old Joseph Migliaccio of Hood River was arrested on charges of Luring a Minor and First Degree Online Sexual Corruption of a Minor. The Sheriff’s Office did not release any other details about the investigation.
October 31 Prep Sports Roundup
Oregon Class 4A Girls Soccer Playoffs
First Round
The Dalles 2, Newport 0: Ariana Gonzalez scored in the 24th minute off an assist from Lilyana Gonzalez. to give the Riverhawks the lead in the first half. Natalia Elias made it 2-0 in the 77th minute on a spot kick to establish the final margin. The Riverhawks advance to travel to North Marion for a quarterfinal game on Saturday.
Washington District 5 Class 2B Girls Soccer Playoffs
First Round
Cle Elum-Roslyn 3, Goldendale 0: The Timberwolves will play Mabton on Thursday at 4 p.m. at Marquette Stadium in Yakima for a state playoff berth.
Person Dies In Goldendale Fire
One person died in a structure fire late Saturday night in Goldendale. The Goldendale Fire Department says the victim’s body was found after the fire had been knocked down and firefighters could begin what was termed as “heavy mop-up.” Crews had been advised a person could be in the structure as they arrived at the scene of the fire in the 1500 block of South Columbus Avenue, but they could not enter due to the structure being fully involved. The identity of the deceased person has not yet been released. The initial report of a fire came at 10:16 Saturday evening when a Klickitat County Sheriff’s Deputy driving in the area reported it. Once the fire was taken care of, the scene was turned over to the Goldendale Police Department to begin their investigation. Police requested assistance from the Klickitat County Coroner’s Office and Q-Global Fire Investigations. Rural 7 Fire, Klickitat County Emergency Medical Services, Department of Emergency Management, and PUD, and Avista were also involved in responding to the fire.
Sign-Ups Begin For Hood River County Christmas Project
Sign-ups for the 100th year of the Hood River County Christmas Project are underway. The Project’s Heather Walker says they helped over 800 families with food boxes and gifts, and they expect to help a similar number this year. Hood River County residents who meet eligibility requirements for the SNAP or WIC programs, the Oregon Health Plan, free or reduced price lunches for kids, are in subsidized housing, or receive FISH Food Bank assistance can receive Christmas Project assistance. To register go to hoodrivercountychristmasproject.com. If you don’t have access to the internet you can call 541-329-0901. In person registration is scheduled for November 15th from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Cascade Locks City Hall
Klickitat Prevention Coalition Receives Federal Grant Renewal
Our Klickitat Prevention Coalition’s drug prevention work with youth Our Klickitat Prevention Coalition’s drug prevention work with youth Our Klickitat Prevention Coalition’s drug prevention work with youth Our Klickitat Prevention Coalition’s drug prevention work with youth will continue to be funded by the federal Drug Free Communities grant for another five years. Washington Gorge Action Programs says it is the organization’s second and final DFC grant, bringing in $125,000 annually for a total of $625,000 over five years. Local partners must match the grant at 125 percent for the first two years and 150 percent for the remaining three years, bringing a total contribution to youth prevention efforts over five years to $1.5 million. Program Director Joanna Turner says it also gives them time to focus on how to how to sustain the program once the funding ends. The Coalition is currently focusing on three main areas: Directly supporting communities to provide education resulting in harm reduction, supporting CultureSeed, a nonprofit that offers underserved youth long-term outdoor immersion and outdoor mentorship programs with a focus on mental health, and supporting school-based health initiatives with partners. The Drug Free Communities grant is funded and directed by the Office of National Drug Control Policy.