Washington Gorge Action programs is bracing for how an upcoming reduction in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will impact its food bank. The SNAP benefits will be returning to pre-pandemic levels. WAGAP Executive Director Leslie Naramore says inflation is eating into the funds the recipients receive, and also into the ability of WAGAP to acquire food for the organization’s food bank. She adds the size of food boxes has gone down, with their funds not able to go as far as they had in the past. Naramore is also concerned that the end of the Treasury Rental Assistance Program in June will lead to more homelessness in the area.
Category: Uncategorized
Hood River Fire Receives Grant Funds For Additional Firefighter
Hood River Fire & EMS has received $384,025 in grant funding from the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office to staff an additional firefighter. The grant will partially cover the new position’s salary over the course of three years – 90% in the first year, 75% in the second, and 50% in the third year. The City would be responsible for paying the full salary beginning in the fourth year. The money is awarded through the Oregon Fire Service Capacity Grant, a program designed to provide funding for small and medium-sized Oregon fire agencies, and to encourage an increase in permanent local firefighter staff. Hood River Fire Chief Leonard Damian says the additional staff member will allow the department to more quickly respond to emergency service requests. The Hood River City Council this week approved accepting the grant money. The City will recruit for the position once the funds are received.
May 23 Prep Sports Roundup
Oregon Class 5A Baseball Playoffs
First Round
Thurston 4, Hood River Valley 3: Adam Elliott’s two-run single in the fourth inning provided the winning margin for the second-ranked Colts. Jordan Webber homered for HRV while Ethan Rivera and Tristin Baker each had run-scoring base hits for the Eagle.
Oregon Class 4A Baseball Playoffs
First Round
The Dalles 7, Stayton 3: A six-run sixth inning lifted the Riverhawks to the victory. Nolan Donivan, Braden Schwartz, Nathan Hedges, and Riley Brock had two hits apiece, while Cooper Klindt drove in two runs. The Riverhawks play a quarterfinal game at Gladstone on Friday.
Oregon Class 4A Softball Playoffs
First Round
The Dalles 16, Seaside 0: It only took four innings for the Riverhawks to advance. Despina Seufaulemua, Zoe LeBreton, Keiliani Crichton-Tunai, Leyah Crichton-Tunai, Maddie Brock, and Kennedy Abbas all drove in two runs apiece. The Dalles hosts Astoria on Friday for a quarterfinal game.
Washington Class B Boys Golf Tournament
Goldendale’s Jackson Large shot a 91 and is tied for 36th after one round, with Ike O’Leary another shot back with a 92, good for a tie for 40th. The final round is today at Tumwater Valley Golf Course.
Area Prep Baseball/Softball Playoff Schedule
Monday, May 22
Oregon Class 1A Baseball Playoffs
Sherman at Country Christian, 4 p.m.
Tuesday, May 23
Oregon Class 5A Baseball Playoffs
First Round
Hood River Valley at Thurston, 5 p.m.
Oregon Class 4A Baseball Playoffs
First Round
Stayton at The Dalles, 6:45 p.m.
Oregon Class 4A Softball Playoffs
First Round
Seaside at The Dalles, 4:45 p.m.
Thursday, May 25
Washington Class 1A Softball Tournament
First Round
Columbia vs. Lynden Christian at Richland, 3 p.m.
Motorcyclist Flown To Hospital After Highway 14 Accident
A motorcyclist from Portland had to be airlifted to a hospital in Richland after a Sunday afternoon accident on Highway 14 east of Wishram. According to the Washington State Patrol, 37-year-old Justin Howard was eastbound with a group of motorcycle riders on Highway 14 at milepost 96. As the group attempted to pass a vehicle, the handlebars of Howard’s motorcycle came loose. Howard lost control and the motorcycle rolled over front to back. The WSP says Howard was ejected from the motorcycle, struck a rock, and landed on the eastbound shoulder. Howard was flown to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland for treatment of unspecified injuries.
Klickitat County To Discuss Behavioral Health Thursday
A meeting is planned in Klickitat County on Thursday to discuss the County’s current behavioral health program’s capabilities and resources, and potential next steps to increase access to mental health services for all county residents. The County already had to take over its own crisis services last year, and now Comprehensive Healthcare has notified the County it intends to close its physical locations in Goldendale and White Salmon. County Commissioner Lori Zoller says this is a continuation of the County having to reinvent how behavioral health operates. The meeting on Thursday begins at 11 a.m. in the County Services Building on 115 West Court in Goldendale.
Westside Urban Renewal Information Session Set For Tuesday
The City of Hood River will host an online information session on the Westside Urban Renewal District on Tuesday. City Manager Abigail Elder says community members are invited to attend, learn more, and have their questions answered. The purpose of this new district will be to establish funding for the City’s plans and goals set in the Transportation System Plan, Affordable Housing Strategy, and Multi-Jurisdictional Parks Master Plan. The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday via Zoom. To register, go to cityofhoodriver.gov.
CGCC Presidency Finalists Announced
The Columbia Gorge Community College board has named four finalists as the search for the school’s next president continues. The list includes Des Moines, Iowa, Area Community College provost Anne Howsare Boyens; Texas City, Texas vice president of instruction Jerry Fliger; Skagit Valley Community College vice president of instruction Ken Lawson; and Hawaii Community College chancellor Rachel Solemsaas. The group of finalists followed recommendations of a 13-member search committee. The school is looking to fill the president’s role being vacated by Marta Yera Cronin, who is leaving CGCC on June 30 to assume a community college presidency in Pennsylvania. The board says CGCC constituents, staff, and faculty will have the opportunity to visit with the four finalists early in June.
Goldendale Man Arrested After Domestic Distrubance
A Goldendale man was taken into custody after Klickitat County Sheriff’s officers responded to a domestic disturbance last Tuesday evening at 24 Baehm’s Way in Goldendale. According to a Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office release, sheriff’s and Washington State Patrol officers secured the scene after residents reported the suspect was firing rounds and had a machete. After a search warrant was obtained, the Tri-City Regional SWAT team entered the property and arrested A.J. Campo, who was booked on numerous charges. The Klickitat County Prosecutor’s office filed charges of three counts of first degree assault, a count of second degree assault, and first degree of unlawful possession of a firearm. Campo’s arraignment is scheduled for June 5 in Klickitat County Superior Court.
Columbia Arts To Release Strategic Plan In Mid-June
Columbia Arts in Hood River says it will unveil its new five-year strategic plan to the public in mid-June. A statement from the organization indicated its board spent eight hours over two days developing the plan after recently holding a number of public input sessions. The board also recently expanded from five to seven members. While announcing that the plan will be released publicly in about a month, a mission statement was put out. It says the organization’s mission is to “promote and provide an equity based, accessible, arts rich environment in the Columbia Gorge.” Columbia Arts has been working to reinvent itself and chart a path forward for full recovery after the pandemic-related shut-downs dealt a severe blow to the organization. Columbia Arts is the legal name of the organization more commonly known as Columbia Center for the Arts.