Hood River County voters now have their ballots that include the Hood River County School District seeking a renewal of its local option levy. The district is asking for a five-year levy, maintaining the same rate of $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed value. A local option levy has been in place since 2004, and it generates about $3.4 million per year to go towards about 35 educational positions in the district. Former district board member Rich Truax points out the levy also generates matching funds from the state, about $728,000 a year. Ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday, May 16.
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Waters Bill Prohibiting Alcohol/THC Combo Products Signed By Inslee
Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill authored by 17th District Rep. Kevin Waters that will prohibit the sale of products combining alcohol and tetrahydrocannabinol in Washington. House Bill 1772 is Waters’ second bill from the 2023 session to receive the governor’s signature. The bill makes it illegal in Washington to manufacture, import, offer, or sell a consumable product that contains cannabis or any form of THC in combination with beer, wine, spirits, or any other type of liquor in the same product. Waters said mixing alcohol and THC is dangerous. They are both depressant drugs, and Waters noted the Food and Drug Administration warns that alcohol may worsen sedation and drowsiness when combined with THC. The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the 2023 legislative session, which ended on April 23.
May 1 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
The Dalles 3, Estacada 2: Avery Schwartz struck out eight in five innings of relief work while Cooper Klindt had a triple and a double. The Riverhawks moved into a tie for second with Madras in the Tri-Valley Conference.
Softball
The Dalles 14, Estacada 0: The Riverhawks scored eight runs in the first inning and cruised to the win from there. Kennedy Abbas gave up only one hit over five innings, striking out five. The Dalles leads the Tri-Valley Conference by two-and-a-half games over Crook County.
Hood River Valley 13, Hillsboro 2: Abby Kahler drove in three runs to lead the Eagles, as they moved within a game of third place in the Northwest Oregon Conference.
Boys Tennis
Wilsonville 5, Hood River Valley 4
Girls Tennis
Hood River Valley 5, Wilsonville 4
Girls Lacrosse
Lincoln 21, Hood River Valley 8
City Of The Dalles Budget Committee Meets This Week
The City of The Dalles Budget Committee starts its work Monday evening, with meetings planned through Wednesday if necessary. Mayor Rich Mays says the City is in a good fiscal position heading into the 2023-24 budget work. Mays expects much of the budget discussion will take place around the City’s contributions to non-profit entities to support their efforts, as it does every year. This evening’s meeting is set to begin at 5:30 in The Dalles City Hall, with others planned for Tuesday and Wednesday if necessary.
HR Library Brings Back Feast Of Words Gala
The Hood River County Library Foundation’s Feast of Words Gala and Fundraiser returns to the Hood River Library this Saturday for the first time since the pandemic. Michael Schock of the Hood River County Library Foundation says Feast of Words is a party with food, drink, music, and a live auction that brings people into the library. This year’s goal is to raise $35,000 to improve infrastructure at library district facilities and support the new Bookmobile. The gala begins this Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Hood River Library. Tickets are $25 and available at the all three library branches, Waucoma Bookstore, Volcanic Bottle Shoppe, and at hoodriverlibrary.org.
Pitch Competition For Area Businesses
Wasco County Innovation Initiative partners are launching a small business pitch competition that invites entrepreneurs to showcase their business ideas and compete to win funding and exposure. The competition is open to small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in Wasco, Sherman, and Hood River counties, who are seeking financial support and a platform to showcase their products or services. Participants will have the opportunity to pitch their business idea in front of a panel of judges composed of industry experts and investors during a live event, “Gorge Pitch Fest,” scheduled for June 14 at the Granada Theatre in The Dalles. The winner will receive a grand prize of $7,000 in funding, with additional cash prizes to be awarded for second place, third place, and the audience’s favorite pitch. The application deadline is May 17, and information is available at mcedd.org. Wasco Innovation Initiative partners involved in this event include Mid-Columbia Economic Development District, Columbia Gorge Small Business Development Center, Port of The Dalles, Columbia Gorge Community College, Business Oregon and the Wasco County Economic Development Commission.
Paving Work Continuing
The Dalles Public Works is beginning to pave back Brentwood Drive and Crest Court with new asphalt beginning Monday. Work hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 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 are being placed on the curb 48 hours before the project moves into each work area.
Crews Fight Friday Fire Near Apartment Complex
Fire crews dealt with a Friday afternoon fire on the west side of The Dalles. According to Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, crews arrived in the 2400 block of West 10th to find a pine tree, shrubs, an SUV, and pickup with a motorcycle in the bed all on fire, which was threatening an apartment complex. Shortly thereafter fire was reported on the roof of the upper part of the complex, but crews used a 550 foot bulk bed stretched up the driveway to stop it. MCFR says structures were saved with no one displaced, and no injuries were reported. Crews from Mosier, Dufur, Wy’east, Dallesport, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and the Oregon Department of Forestry assisted Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue at the scene. The cause is under investigation.
April 28-29 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Hood River Valley 13, Milwaukie 1: Jordan Webber drove in three runs at the plate and struck out seven in four innings on the mound to lead HRV to the series win.
Seton Catholic 10, Columbia 0
Castle Rock 8, Stevenson 5
Heppner sweeps Dufur 12-1 and 24-0
Sherman sweeps Stanfield 10-9 and 10-5
Irrigon sweeps Lyle-Klickitat-Wishram 6-0 and 14-0
Goldendale splits with Kittitas, winning game one 9-6 but losing game two 11-1
Softball
Hood River Valley at Hillsboro, ppd. to Monday in Hood River.
Columbia 22, Seton Catholic 2
Stevenson 14, Castle Rock 4
Track and Field
Hood River Valley’s Simone Tillman won both the girls’ 400 meters and long jump and Sylvaine Farr was first in the pole vault at the Kiwanis Invitiational in Hermiston
Eduardo Rubio and Sophie Hulke of Sherman each won a pair of events at the Condon Invitational
Hood River Valley’s boys 4 by 800 meter relay team grabbed a second place finish at the Nike Jesuit Twilight Relays, while Zoe Dunn of The Dalles finished fourth in the girls’ long jump and triple jump.
Goldendale was the boys’ winner and Columbia the girls’ victor at the Jeff Agar Memorial Invitational at Trout Lake. Goldendale’s Raymond Holycross won four boys’ events while Austin Fink of Klickitat won three. Columbia’s Jessica Polkinghorn won three events in the girls’ portion of the meet.
Girls Lacrosse
Grant 17, Hood River Valley 2
LINK Proposes Rate Changes
The LINK Public Transit in The Dalles is proposing decreasing its fixed route fare and increasing the Dial-A-Ride fare. Under the proposal, fixed routes will decrease from $1.50 to $1.00 and Dial-a-Ride service will increase from $1.50 to $2.00 for all one-way rides within The Dalles city limits, starting on May 29. The changes in price will make the Link’s fares equal to the cost of fares charged by other transportation providers within the Gorge, so that the whole regional transit system is consistent in price. Public comment is being taken on the proposal, with open house sessions planned for May 17 from 10 a.m. to noon and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at The Dalles Transit Center on 802 Chenowith Loop Road. Individuals can continue to use or purchase the GOrge Pass for all fixed bus routes in the area during 2023. The LINK will continue to offer discounted or free passes to low-income riders through the Gorge Transit Connect program.