Hood River County Commissioners approved moving forward toward removal of the Powerdale Powerhouse to re-establish fish habitat and improve recreational access to the Hood River. Representatives of the Hood River Watershed Group and Columbia Land Trust made a presentation outlining the kind of possible restoration work that can be done, if funding can be acquired. County Public Works Director Cori Wiessner noted other partners have shown an interest in taking part the project and would provide the money for removing the powerhouse without the County having to pay for it. If the County tried to rehabilitate it and keep it up, the County would have to do it themselves. Commissioners noted they mostly heard about the habitat benefits of removal, and in giving the direction to move forward they want to ensure recreational needs and historic context are addressed.
Category: Uncategorized
Public Safety Budget Issues Part of Hood River County Commission Discussion
Hood River County Commissioners held a lengthy discussion about reining in spending, particularly labor costs, at their Monday meeting. It was prompted by Commissioner Arthur Babitz belief that layoffs will be necessary in the 2026-27 budget due to currently unsustainable levels of spending, and in particular that while many county departments have been working to streamline their operations, public safety has not been held to that same standard. Administrator Allison Williams pointed out she has been talking with Sheriff Matt English about taking part in an upcoming organizational assessment and financial analysis. Commission Chair Jennifer Euwer added that the Sheriff is to make a financial presentation in November, and she wanted to see that process play out. The County is dealing with the loss of funding that was received during the pandemic, and the impact of rising operational costs.
TD Chamber Honors Award Winners
Bill Hamilton was named Man of the Year and Colleen Ballinger was tabbed as Woman of the Year at The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Citizens Awards. Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson says the banquet at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center went well. Other award winners included Ken Pohlen for Agricultural Achievement, Crystal Corey for Educator of the Year, Gil Anderson for Volunteer of the Year, nd Jessica Antunez Garza for Youth of the Year. Gorge Academy of Cosmetology and Massage was named Business of the Year, and Coastal Air Strike received First Responder of the Year.
Port To Hear State Of The Bridge Report
When the Port of Hood River meets Tuesday evening, Port Commissioners will hear a State of the Bridge report. The Port’s engineers and staff will give a presentation on how the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge is evaluated, what various sufficiency ratings mean, recent levels of investment, and traffic planning. Port Executive Director Kevin Greenwood says decisions on bridge maintenance are complicated by not yet knowing exactly when a new bridge will be constructed. A project to do some spot paint work on the bridge is moving forward. Greenwood noted engineers have begun evaluating the bridge for that project. Tuesday’s Port of Hood River Commission meeting starts at 5 p.m. in the Port’s Marina Center conference room.
Fire At Foley Lakes Trailer Park
Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue crews responded to a fire within the Foley Lakes Trailer Park on Sunday night. MCFR says crews were originally dispatched to a report of possibly multiple structures on fire within the trailer park around 8:10p.m. Sunday evening. Upon arrival crews were met with heavy fire conditions at a single residential structure in D-Loop. Three engines responded along with other MCFR personnel, local law enforcement, and Northern Wasco PUD. MCFR says no injuries were reported as a result of the fire.
September 12-13 Prep Sports Roundup
Football
Hood River Valley 35, Grant 0
Astoria 32, The Dalles 6
Ilwaco 20, Columbia 12
Stevenson at Elma, ccld.
Dufur 20, Crosspoint Christian 12
Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 42, North Douglas 32
Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 64, South Wasco 28
Sherman 19, Ione-Arlington 0
Toledo 60, Goldendale 14
Volleyball
South Wasco def. Country Christian 25-19, 25-18, 25-12
Portland Christian def. South Wasco 25-23, 18-25, 25-22, 16-25, 15-17
Imbler def. Trout Lake-Glenwood 25-8, 25-10
Powder Valley def. Trout Lake-Glenwood 25-19, 25-21
Adrian def. Trout Lake-Glenwood 25-13, 25-21
Joseph def. Trout Lake-Glenwood 25-16, 25-7
Grant Union def. Trout Lake-Glenwood 25-15, 25-17
Damascus Christian def. Horizon Christian 25-12, 25-9, 25-16
Sherman def. Southwest Christian 25-22, 25-21
Sherman def. Country Christian 25-19, 25-16
The Dalles at Sisters Tournament
Girls Soccer
The Dalles 8, Baker 0
Salem Academy 2, Trout Lake-Horizon Christian 1
Boys Soccer
The Dalles 8, Baker 0
Trout Lake-Horizon Christian 9, Irrigon 1
Cross Country
Hood River Valley finished sixth in the boys’ race at the Oregon City Invitational. Sam Knoll led the Eagles with a ninth place finish. In the girls’ run, Trout Lake’s Melody Stock came in seventh.
September 11 Prep Sports Roundup
Volleyball
Sherman def. Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 25-13, 25-19, 25-23
Bickleton def. Horizon Christian 25-12, 25-14, 25-14
Goldendale def. Stevenson 3-0
Boys Soccer
Central Catholic 3, Hood River Valley 0
The Dalles 2, Klamath Union 0
Trout Lake-Horizon Christian 4, Southwest Christian 3
Girls Soccer
Trout Lake-Horizon Christian 8, Portland Christian 1
Boys Water Polo
Newberg 17, Hood River Valley 6
Girls Water Polo
Newberg 15, Hood River Valley 4
Website To Show Respiratory Illness Risk
Local health departments, hospitals, and wastewater treatment plants have launched a new website that shows the current local risk of viral respiratory illness. The Respiratory Risk Rating website at North Central Public Health District’s website, ncphd.org, shows Columbia River Gorge residents the current combined risk for flu, COVID, and RSV. The rating system has four levels; normal, caution, high, and very high, along with a brief summary of the trending direction of each illness. The risk levels are based on anonymous test results from local hospitals and wastewater treatment facilities. NCPHD and Hood River County Health Department Regional Epidemiologist Marta Fisher says the goal is to clarify information so people can make informed decisions. The rating is put together through data collected by the Columbia Gorge Wellness Partnership, which is made up of wastewater treatment facilities in Hood River and The Dalles, Adventist Health Columbia Gorge Hospital, Providence Memorial Hospital Hood River, NCPHD, HRCHD, and Gilliam County Health Department. Local treatment plants send wastewater samples, collected at the plant, to Oregon State University for testing, local hospitals share summaries of their test results, and local health departments evaluate the data to make the rating.
El Grito Celebration Sunday
Washington Gorge Action Programs and the City of White Salmon will hold its fourth annual El Grito cultural celebration this Sunday afternoon in Rheingarten Park. It’s in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month. A number of countries including Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Chile recognize their independence from colonial powers between September 15 and October 15. There will be music, food, children’s activities and over 40 community partners will be there to share information about the types of services they offer. “El Grito” refers to the Mexican Independence battle cry. The event will take place from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday afternoon at Rheingarten Park in White Salmon, and admission is free.
TD City Council Gets Briefing On Mobile Vendor Ordinance
The Dalles City Council received a briefing this week from City Attorney Jonathan Kara on proposed changes to ordinances regarding mobile food vendors and transient merchants. But comments from the audience centered on support for the Bread and Blessings distribution of food for those who are hungry in the area of 1st and Union, with most supporting that effort. Mayor Rich Mays says the proposed changes are about where food is distributed and keeping sidewalks safe, passible, and sanitary for everyone, and would not ban feeding the hungry or charitable giving. The ordinance will come back to the City Council for consideration on September 22.