Oregon State University Extension, the Hood River County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers will be holding a Spanish-language private pesticide applicator license exam preparation class in early February at the Pine Grove Grange. OSU Extension Horticulturist Ashley Thompson says the class is taught by educators from the Washington State Department of Agriculture, adding it has a track record of success. The classes will take place February 6-9. Cost is $175, and includes 2 1/2 days of instruction along with the Oregon and Washington applicators exams. Space is limited. To sign-up, contact Thompson at OSU Extension at 541-296-5494 or the Hood River County Soil and Water Conservation District 541-386-4588.
Category: Uncategorized
Corry Says Republicans Will Stand Firmly Against Tax Increases
Washington state continues to see steady revenue growth, and that’s got Republican legislators standing firmly against any new tax increase proposals in the 2024 legislative session starting this week. 14th District Representative Chris Corry is the Republican budget leader on the House Appropriations Committee. He believes uncertainty is on the horizon and he’s concerned about potential spending as lawmakers get to work on this year’s supplemental budget. Corry does think some moves for additional funding for special education and student support are broadly supported, but they also have a lot of challenges to deal with.
January 5-6 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
The Dalles 67, Willamette 60
Centennial 56, Hood River Valley 43
Columbia 61, Castle Rock 51
Stevenson 44, King’s Way Christian 34
Stevenson 65, Hockinson 62
Dufur 62, South Wasco 47
Dufur 84, Lyle-Wishram 47
Horizon Christian 41, Trout Lake 31
Horizon Christian 58, South Wasco 53
North Clackamas Christian 45, Trout Lake 17
Sherman 48, Condon 41
Lyle-Wishram 82, Klickitat-Glenwood 40
Cle Elum-Roslyn 63, Goldendale 49
White Swan 38, Goldendale 35
Girls Basketball
South Wasco 67, Dufur 39
South Wasco 68, Horizon Christian 17
Trout Lake 70, Horizon Christian 16
North Clackamas Christian 51, Trout Lake 27
Dufur 54, Lyle-Wishram 8
Sherman 43, Condon 28
Cle Elum-Roslyn 53, Goldendale 4
White Swan 45, Goldendale 35
Girls Wrestling
Hood River Valley’s Natalia Solorio Campos won the 190 pound division at the Southridge Invitational. Kyra Mitchell was fourth at 130 pounds.
Boys Wrestling
Amado Velador of The Dalles finished third in the 106 pound division of the Paul/Larson Invitational in Sandy. The Riverhawks’ Creighton Clack and Alexander DeLaTorre earned fourth place finishes.
Kasen Pozel of Stevenson finished fourth at 150 pounds at the Jim Bair Invitational in Castle Rock.
January 4 Prep Sports Roundup
Girls Basketball
Mountain View (WA) 49, Hood River Valley 32: The Thunder got off to a 20-4 start and never looked back. Julia Rowan scored ten points to lead the Eagles.
King’s Way Christian 49, Stevenson 27: The Knights used a dominant first half to roll to the win. Sofia Spencer led the Bulldogs with 13 points.
Castle Rock 45, Columbia 25
Boys Swimming
Canby 99, Hood River Valley 71
Girls Swimming
Canby 102, Hood River Valley 68
OSP Investigates Cutting Of Highway Signs
Oregon State Police are seeking information in the case of a number of highway signs being cut down and discarded in Wasco County. The OSP says on December 21, Oregon State Police responded to a report of multiple road signs that had been cut down and removed in Wasco County. The investigation determined that seven Oregon Department of Transportation road signs had been removed sometime between December 15 and December 20. Signs were removed from Highways 97, 293, and 218 in Wasco County. The signs were discarded on Highway 293 near milepost 3. The estimated repair cost for each sign is approximately $500. The OSP is asking anyone who may have information related to this incident to call dispatch at *677 and reference case number SP23-400394.
MCAREC Growing; New Executive Director Coming
The Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center is in the midst of a growth spurt. There are lab renovations going on at the facility in Hood River, and more staff is coming in. That includes a new executive director, and OSU Extension Horticulturalist Ashley Thompson says Dr. Brian Pearson comes to them from a similar facility in Florida. Pearson brings nearly 20 years of experience in research, teaching, and extension with strong roots in the land-grant system. His investigative focus considers all aspects of diverse specialty crop production to include selection, cultivation, and management for aesthetic, edible, beverage, and medicinal application and use with a specific focus on developing a thorough understanding of how each agricultural production factor, separately and in combination, influence plant growth and development. Pearson is to begin work at the Center later this month.
HR Rotary Ski Night On January 15
Tickets are on sale for the Hood River Rotary Club’s annual ski night at Mount Hood Meadows, set once again for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 15. The event is a key fundraiser for the club’s scholarship efforts. The event will run from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on January 15 at Mt. Hood Meadows. Tickets are available at skihood.com.
Skamania County Warming Shelter To Open Thursday
The Skamania County Emergency Warming Shelter near the Hegewald Center in Stevenson will open Thursday (January 11). Washington Gorge Action Programs expects the shelter to be available through mid to late March, depending on weather conditions. Houseless persons needing to escape life-threatening winter weather can access the shelter Thursday through Monday evenings and must check in between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. each night and check out by 7:00 a.m. the next morning. Clients can return for as many nights as needed. The shelter is available to adults, children accompanied by their parents/guardians, and emancipated minors. Unaccompanied minors will be referred to the Youth Empowerment Shelter in The Dalles. If emergency needs arise on Tuesday and Wednesday nights when the shelter is not open, clients can connect with WAGAP during regular office hours for alternate assistance. The WAGAP office in Stevenson is at 683 SW Rock Creek Drive and is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office phone number is 509-427-8229.
NDI Names Reierson Philanthropist Of The Year
The Next Door named Lars Reierson as the recipient of its Philanthropist of the Year award. The organization says over the years, Reierson has helped further its mission of opening doors to new possibilities by strengthening children and families, noting he made a significant contribution to The Next Door in 2020 after hearing there were local families who didn’t have money to buy groceries during the pandemic, and leverages his resources to give to those in need in big ways. Reierson also contributes his time to the community as a volunteer firefighter at the Westside Fire Department and a volunteer ski instructor for the Special Olympics. He’s an advocate for and supporter of Oregon Health and Science University’s Type 1 Diabetes program as well as their program to treat post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans. In an effort to give youth born outside of the U.S. a fair shot at education, Reierson established a scholarship with the Rotary Club in memory of his mother. Reierson was recognized by The Next Door in a private event with organization staff and family in attendance.
Klickitat PUD Raises Rates
Klickitat PUD has raised its rates with the start of the year. During its 2023 rate review, the PUD found the impact due to increases in cost related to wholesale power markets was 9%, so the PUD elected to gradually raise rates over three years, resulting in 3% increases last year, this year, and in 2025. Percentage increases will vary by rate class and component, but the PUD says the average residential customer will see an increase of $5.37 per month. The PUD says regional wholesale power markets continue to see reduced supply and increased demand, raising concerns about power availability at peak times and during extreme weather conditions. The PUD says it has usually aimed for an electric system built with excess capacity. But due to load growth, as expected with the regulatory policy push towards electrification, the excess capacity is depleted and Klickitat PUD needs to build additional system capacity. Rate revenues will go up by 4.5%. Rate changes assessed and approved annually through public process. The 2024 portion was approved during a hearing in December.