A 70-year-old Parkdale man drowned in a boating accident at the Hood River Marina on Friday evening. According to the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, the sailboat Dennis Howe was on was in the process of docking in a slip at the time when he fell from the boat just after 6:45 Friday evening. When Sheriff’s and Hood River City Police officers responded Howe had not resurfaced, even though multiple bystanders had gone into the water to attempt to find him. The Skamania County Dive Team was called in to assist in recovery, but darkness fell before that could happen. Howe’s remains were recovered Saturday morning. The incident remains under investigation. Anybody who may have witnessed the incident or have relevant information is asked to contact the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office.
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Ballots Due On Tuesday
Ballots for Oregon’s special districts election must be placed in official dropboxes by 8 p.m. Tuesday or postmarked by Tuesday. A number of different seats on school boards, port commissions, parks and recreation district boards, and more are on the ballot. In Hood River County, the school district’s attempt to renew its local option levy is also being voted on. Official ballot drop boxes in Wasco County are located at the County Courthouse on 511 Washington in The Dalles, city halls in Dufur and Mosier, the Maupin Civic Center, and Three Warriors Market in Simnasho. In addition, The Dalles Rotary Club will be doing its drive-thru ballot collection Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. outside the Wasco County Courthouse. In Hood River County ballots can be dropped off at the County Election Office on 601 State in Hood River, Cascade Locks City Hall, and Parkdale Elementary School.
Smoking & Vaping Prohibited At Lewis & Clark Festival Park
Smoking and vaping is now prohibited at Lewis & Clark Festival Park in The Dalles. The Dalles City Council recently voted unanimously to do that at the request of the North Central Public Health District and others. The decision aligns Festival Park with the nine parks with The Dalles city limits run by the Northern Wasco County Parks & Recreation District that have tobacco-free policies. The City’s prohibition does carry with it a $100 fine for those found in violation. Police officers are directed to educate the public about the prohibition rather than issue a ticket when initially enforcing the ban. NCPHD officials say the prohibition will protect the public from secondhand smoke, reduce litter and fire danger, and help people who have quit or are trying to quit tobacco avoid being triggered by being around smoking.
Tourism Time Coming In The Dalles
Coming off a successful Northwest Cherry Festival, The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce is now getting ready for the upcoming tourism season. Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson said it was busy on Mother’s Day weekend, but a better gauge for visitor traffic in downtown The Dalles will be the upcoming weekend without any kind of holiday attached. She notes Travel Oregon is predicting tourism growth in the upcoming year. Farquharson adds they have been working to the get their promotional materials deeper into the Willamette Valley corridor.
Warm Temperatures Means More On The Waterfront
The arrival of warm temperatures means the beginning of larger crowds on the Hood River Waterfront. For the Port of Hood River, that means preparing to deal with the issues that come with those numbers on their recreational sites. Port Executive Director Kevin Greenwood says hiring maintenance workers has been an issue, but at this point he believes they will be fully staffed for the summer to handle garbage, cleaning restroom facilities, and doing landscaping among other tasks. Greenwood says parking will continue to be tight, so consider arriving early in the day to visit the waterfront.
Paving Work This Week On Two Streets In The Dalles
The Dalles Public Works is doing paving work on East 18th and Bridge streets this week, installing new asphalt, weather permitting. Work on East 18th is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, then moves on to Bridge Street on Wednesday and Thursday. Work hours are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on each scheduled work day. Full street closures will be in effect most of each work day. Motor vehicles and bicyclists will be detoured to adjacent side streets. Where sidewalks exist, pedestrian and sidewalk access will remain open through the duration of this work. No parking will be allowed within the project areas due to curb-to-curb asphalt removal and replacement. No parking signs will be place on the curb 48 hours before the project moves into each work area.
Johnson Tabbed As Permanent Art Center Executive Director
The Dalles Art Center has hired Sally Johnson as its new executive director. Volunteering since March as interim director and helping develop a financial sustainability plan for The Dalles Art Center with its board of directors, Johnson now moves into the permanent role. Johnson, a former REI executive where she most recently headed local marketing, brand engagement, & partnerships, holds Master of Business Administration in Sustainable Business from Presidio Graduate School and Bachelor of Arts from Bennington College where she majored in visual arts and literature. From 2020-22 she was director of business development at Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center in Carnation, Washington, building corporate partnership programs, growing members and subscribers, helping the organization to inspire people to eat healthy, sustainably grown food and to steward natural resources for future generations. She is a graduate of Essentials of Development Training from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust and a member of the Public Relations Society of America.
Multnomah Falls Parking Permits Begin May 26
A Timed Use Permit will be required for visitors using the Multnomah Falls parking lot at I-84 exit 31 daily between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., from May 26 through September 4 this year. Forest Service officials say the purpose of the permit system is to help reduce congestion, increase safety and improve the overall visitor experience. Like last year, Timed Use Permits will be available online at Recreation.gov for a $2 transaction fee per vehicle. Permits will be released two weeks prior to the visit date. There will also be a limited amount of in-person, same-day permits (no fee) at locations such as the Gateway to the Gorge Visitor Center in Troutdale and the Cascade Locks Historical Museum. Each permit lists a one-hour time slot and visitors may arrive anytime during that time and they can stay for as long as they would like. A timed use permit reservation does not guarantee parking. Options for visiting Multnomah Falls without a permit include taking public transit through Columbia Area Transit, modify the timing of your trip to before or after the permit times and peak visitation, or plan your visit to Multnomah Falls prior to Memorial Day and after Labor Day, when there is less visitation demand.
Scaife Named New Pinchot Deputy Forest Supervisor
Dan Scaife has been selected as the new Deputy Forest Supervisor on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, effective next week. Scaife began his USDA Forest Service career on the Shoshone National Forest in Wyoming and has since held numerous program management, supervisory, and leadership positions within the agency. More recently he was a District Ranger on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest and is currently the Deputy Forest Supervisor on El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico. Scaife has worked to develop project planning efficiencies to deliver on large-scale vegetation restoration and fuels programs. He also brings experience in supporting prescribed fire and wildfire response and has managed large incidents that have resulted in fire salvage, forest health, and restoration projects. He also has helped local communities with natural resource management issues in Ethiopia and Russia in support of the International Programs branch of the Forest Service.
May 12-13 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Hood River Valley 9, Hillsboro 4: The Eagles clinched a berth in the Oregon Class 5A playoffs with the win.
Big Sky League Playoff: Weston-McEwen 12, Sherman 4
Softball
Wilsonville 12, Hood River Valley 2
Columbia 15, LaCenter 0
King’s Way Christian sweeps Stevenson 17-2 and 13-3
Elgin-Imbler def. Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 15-0 and 16-1
Girls Lacrosse
Summit 14, Hood River Valley 10
Track and Field
Columbia’s girls finished a close second to LaCenter at the Trico League Championships at Seton Catholic. Ella Zimmerman won both hurdles races for the Bruins, while Jessica Polkinghorn won the shot put and javelin. Stevenson received first place finishes from Olivia Fauth in the long jump and Rebecca Townsend in the triple jump. Columbia earned 19 entries for this coming Thursday’s Southwest Washington Class 1A regional meet, again at Seton Catholic, while Stevenson grabbed 12. In boys competition, Stevenson accumulated 10 regional entries, and Columbia 6.
South Wasco was the boys’ winner and Sherman the girls victor at the Pirate Invitational in Bickleton. Sherman’s Sophie Hulke swept the girls’ throws, while Landon Sanchey of Glenwood won a pair of boys’ events.
Boys Tennis
Paul Capek and Paul Kelly won the boys’ doubles title at the Oregon Class 4A Special District 4 tournament in Stanfield. The Riverhawk pair defeated Koda and Evan Alvarez of Four Rivers 6-4, 6-4 in the final. The state tournament is in Corvallis this coming weekend.