The Hood River City Council voted against immediately moving to a new governance structure for the Urban Renewal Agency that would leave only the Council as voting board members, opting instead to have staff do outreach to other impacted taxing districts to gauge how they want to be involved. Councilor Grant Polson moved to make the change now, but it was defeated by a 4-3 vote. Councilor Doug Stepina said he would feel better moving forward with having the Council as the voting board after reaching out to other districts first. The current URA board is made up of the Council and two members of the Port of Hood River Commission, but with the Waterfront Urban Renewal District winding down the Council wanted to take the opportunity to reconsider the governance structure.
Category: Uncategorized
The Dalles Council Approves RV Park Revisions
The Dalles City Council approved an ordinance revising its recreational vehicle park regulations to prohibit RV parks in all residential zones….moving conditional use permit requirements into RV ordinances and shifting to site plan reviews for all RV park applications. Community Development Director Joshua Chandler noted an expressed concern about RV parks ending up in industrial zones and taking those properties away from economic development purposes, but pointed out they couldn’t deny such a permit even with a conditional use process in place. The vote to approve was 4-1, with Councilor Rod Runyon voting no.
Woman Dies In I-84 Exit 62 Accident
A 36-year-old woman died in a one-vehicle accident on Friday night just off westbound Interstate 84 exit 62 in Hood River County. According to the Oregon State Police, a preliminary investigation indicated a pickup truck driven by Miranda Kaylyn Archer of Goldendale was traveling westbound on the freeway just before 9 p.m. Friday night when it took the exit 62 off-ramp. The truck left the roadway on the exit ramp, went over the guardrail and down an embankment, coming to rest on its roof in the parking lot of the Columbia River Villas. The OSP says Archer was declared deceased at the scene, while a 13-year-old male was transported by Life Flight to an area hospital. The OSP added speed is a suspected contributing factor in the crash. OSP was assisted by the Hood River Police and Fire Departments, Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
One Injured In Highway 14 Accident At Beacon Rock
One person was injured late Monday afternoon in a two-vehicle accident on Highway 14 near Beacon Rock. According to the Washington State Patrol, 37-year-old Amy Collins of Stevenson was taken to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland for treatment of unspecified injuries. The WSP reports Collins was traveling in her car eastbound on Highway 14 near milepost 35 the vehicle crossed the center line, and hit a westbound utility vehicle head on. According to the WSP the four people in the other vehicle, a family from Castle Rock, were not injured. The accident occurred at about 4:45 Monday afternoon, and remains under investigation.
CCHC On List For Portion Of Housing Funds
Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation is on a list of seven different rural housing organizations seeking a portion of $1.5 million designated by Oregon Housing and Community Services to increase the ability to address housing needs. CCHC Executive Director Joel Madsen says earlier this fall, the organization submitted an investment proposal to the Department that would allow CCHC to advance existing community priority affordable housing developments and best position the region to be competitive in Oregon Housing And Community Services’ anticipated consolidated funding cycles. He adds CCHC intends to create a new staff position that will be responsible for leading the work to develop additional service-enriched affordable housing in our region. OHCS is disbursing a one-time $25 million HOME American Rescue Plan federal investment.
TD Public Works Offers Tips To Protect Water Pipes
With the weather forecast calling for sustained very cold temperatures in the next week, so The Dalles Public Works Department is offering some tips to reduce the risk of burst water pipes. The Dalles Public Works Dave Anderson advises people to drain or blow out all irrigation systems, remove hoses from outside faucets and install an insulated cover on faucets. If you have installed heat tapes on water pipes, check to be sure they are working. Also, make sure all foundation vents are closed or plugged, secure basements against the cold, fill drafty cracks and repair broken windows. Look for your main shut-off valve, usually located where the water pipe enters your house. If you do not have a main shut-off valve, consider installing one in case of emergency. The Public Works Department puts thermal blankets on City water meters to prevent freezing. Please do not pull out your meter lid to check if it is insulated because you could accidently damage the wire connected to the meter box lid. For more information go to thedalles.org/waterdistribution.
January 8 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
Hood River Valley 79, Milwaukie 65: Sawyer Clemett scored 24 points and Matthew Fauth 22 as the Eagles blew the game open in the third quarter and earned their first Northwest Oregon Conference win of the season. Jaxson Spafford scored 35 to pace Milwaukie.
Riverside 69, Columbia 37
Girls Basketball
Hood River Valley 52, Milwaukie 20: The Eagles won for the first time in Northwest Oregon Conference.
Riverside 48, Columbia 17
HR County Crews Ready For Upper Valley Snow
With winter weather in the forecast for the Upper Hood River Valley this week, Hood River County crews are getting ready to clear roads when snow does fall. County Administrator Allison Williams says they are ready to deal with what the weather might bring in the next few days, with a full staff supplied and ready to go. Williams notes that as usual, main roads will be taken care of first, then residential roads, so the County is asking for patience. Lower levels are forecast to see heavy rains along with strong winds on Tuesday, which has emergency crews watching for slide activity. As of Monday afternoon, the National Weather Service has a winter storm watch in effect for the Upper Hood River Valley and the Cascade above the 1,500 foot mark beginning at 4 a.m. Tuesday.
Meadows Postpones FISH Benefit Due To Wind Forecast
With Tuesday’s forecast is calling for very strong to extreme gusty winds in excess of 50 miles per hour, Mt. Hood Meadows says it is postponing its Provide to Ride benefit for FISH Food Bank until January 30. Meadows President and General Manager Greg Pack says the storm has the potential to significantly impact lift operations at Mt. Hood Meadows, if not shut down the resort entirely. Pack adds they don’t want to hold the FISH benefit on a day with limited lift operations. Meadows indicates those who bought the specially-priced $40 lift tickets for Tuesdays’ event, can have the purchase refunded onto the credit card you made it with, which can then be used to purchase tickets for the January 30 event, if you wish. For more information and updates, visit the resort website at SkiHood.com.
Trafficking Awareness Walks Set For Thursday
The Mid-Columbia Human Trafficking Task Force will holding a pair of walks in the region this Thursday to bring attention to the subject. One will be held in The Dalles at noon Thursday, going from HAVEN at 420 East 3rd to The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce, and the other will be in Hood River at 3 p.m., going from Tsuruta Park to the Hood River Library. Presentations will follow at both locations. Twenty-one different agencies, from law enforcement to social service groups, make up the task force in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, and Wheeler counties.