Washington Fourth District Congressman Dan Newhouse joined a group of representatives to introduce a bill to modernize U.S. Agriculture Department process to respond to changes in organic farming practices. Newhouse believes the Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act would better align organic standards authored by the agency with industry best practices and consumer demands. Newhouse, a third-generation farmer, says it is crucial to ensure transparency in organics process—for both producers and consumers—and provide growers certainty, adding that is how to spark further innovation and improvement within the organic industry. The bill would require the USDA to request public input on recommended changes to organic standards at least once every five years and establishes a five-year working period for the USDA, in consultation with the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), to implement the recommendations. It also calls for those two groups to consider the best available information – including environmental and ecological data, consumer and market data, organic production and handling practices, organic research, and scientific data – when implementing recommended changes.
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October 17 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Boys Soccer
Hood River Valley 3, Parkrose 2: HRV moves into fourth in the Northwest Oregon Conference with the victory.
Girls Soccer
Parkrose 1, Hood River Valley 0
The Dalles 1, Madras 0: The win sets up a showdown for first place in the Tri-Valley Conference with Gladstone tomorrow at 4 p.m. in The Dalles.
Columbia 4, Castle Rock 1
White Swan at Goldendale, 6 p.m.
Volleyball
LaSalle def. Hood River Valley 25-4, 25-12, 25-17
LaCenter def. Columbia 25-21, 25-12, 25-20
Seton Catholic def. Stevenson 3-2
Goldendale def. Mabton 3-0
CGCC Releases Study On Its Economic Impact
Columbia Gorge Community College has released a study on the economic impact of Oregon’s community colleges that finds CGCC supported 645 jobs in the region in the 2021-2022 fiscal year, adding about $45 million to the local economy. The study was conducted by Lightcast, a labor analytics firm, on behalf of the Oregon Community College Association. Statewide, the report showed that Oregon’s 17 community colleges generate an annual economic impact of $9.6 billion and support 1 out of every 22 jobs in the state. The Lightcast study says the average CGCC associate degree graduate from Fiscal Year 2021-22 will see annual earnings that are $7,000 higher than a person with a high school diploma or equivalent working in Oregon. The full report entitled “The Economic Value of Columbia Gorge Community College” is available at cgcc.edu.
HR School Board Talks Mental Health Supports
The Hood River County School District board held a worksession to discuss mental health support for students. Interim District Superintendent Bill Newton says they had a number of community partners take part in the meeting as all involved shared the levels of support they provide both students and parents. Newton says they have increased the number of counselors and student support specialists in schools to help with mental health needs. But he adds the worksession showed there is more need out there than the level of support both the district and their community partners are currently providing.
New Signs Near Tobacco Displays Part Of 2006 Court Ruling
New signs near tobacco displays in local stores include “corrective statements” that are part of the outcome of a 2006 federal court ruling that found tobacco companies misled customers about the harm and addictiveness of smoking. North Central Public Health District says the signs are required to be posted at about 200,000 retail locations nationwide that have merchandising agreements with the tobacco companies involved in the litigation. Another 100,000 tobacco retailers do not have such agreements and aren’t required to post the signs. Retailers had until October 1 to post the signs, which must stay up for 21 months. The signs are the final remedies called for by the 2006 ruling. In 2017, the tobacco companies were required to post the statements in newspaper advertisements, on TV spots, on cigarette packages, and on their websites and social media pages. The court ordered the posting of retail signs regarding the adverse health effects of smoking, how addictive it is, how “light” or “mild” and other labels did not have health benefits, how the industry manipulated cigarette design and composition to ensure optimum nicotine delivery, and how dangerous secondhand smoke is.
White Salmon Council To Discuss Tax Increase
The White Salmon City Council will hold a hearing on Wednesday on taking the annual one percent property tax increase allowed by the state of Washington. It’s part of their work in preparing a municipal budget for 2024. Mayor Marla Keethler says the City is in a healthy financial state heading into next year, but costs continue to increase. Keethler said as the budget process continues, decisions will need to be made on projects the Council would like to undertake and how they are financed, whether it’s from the City’s budget or seeking additional funds from other sources.
October 16 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Boys Soccer
Madras 1, The Dalles 0: The White Buffaloes closed in on clinching first place in the Tri-Valley Conference with the narrow victory over the Riverhawks…taking a four point lead in the standings with just two matches to play.
Trout Lake-Glenwood 3, Portland Christian 0: The Mustangs nail down second in Special District 7 with the victory.
Columbia Christian 8, Horizon Christian 0
Volleyball
Open Door Christian def. Horizon Christian 25-14, 25-11, 25-15
Hood River County Commission Approves Moving Ahead With Forest Carbon Credits Plan
Hood River County Commissioners have approved moving forward with an agreement with The Carbon Trust to set up sale of carbon credits for the County Forest. Commissioners voted unanimously to ask staff to draw up the paperwork to move forward. The move will commit the County to continue with a conservative management of its forestlands that it has almost always practiced for the next 40 years, with The Carbon Trust marketing credits that are estimated to bring in over $23 million in the next seven years. Commissioner Les Perkins noted the County has looked for this kind of opportunity for a long time, and the revenue can help them acquire more forestlands, a long-standing goal of the Commission. Proceeds can only be used for purchasing additional forestlands or uses related to their maintenance. It will probably two years before credits actually go on sale, as County Forester Doug Thiesies said it would probably take a full summer season to do the forest inventory to prepare for it.
Port of HR Looks To Complete Funding Package For Lot 1 Infrastructure
With a federal grant in hand to pay for part of the project, the Port of Hood River is now trying to determine how it will source the remaining monies needed to fully fund extending utilities onto Lot 1 along the Nichols Basin plus extending East Anchor Way. The Port recently received a $2 million grant from the Economic Development Administration, which covers about half of the cost of the project. Port Executive Director Kevin Greenwood says Oregon Department of Transportation’s Connect Oregon funds are one possible source. Greenwood says ODOT also has an Immediate Opportunity Fund that could provide part of the necessary monies for the project.
HR Police Arrest Three After Traffic Stops
Hood River Police arrested three people on Friday following two vehicle stops. Police officials say in the first stop the driver exhibited several signs of impairment, and after being taken into custody on a DUII-Controlled Substance charge acknowledged using methamphetamine. While conducting that investigation, an officer observed a driver whose driving privileges were known to be suspended. When that vehicle was stopped the driver was found to be impaired, arrested on a DUII charge, and admitted to fentanyl use. During that interaction, the owner of the vehicle was taken into custody after the discovery of a loaded and concealed firearm, over 58 grams of methamphetamine, two digital scales, and several dozen plastic packaging bindles. That person was facing numerous charges, including being a felon in possession of a firearm.