Mid-Columbia Community Action’s new navigation center has been christened the Gloria Center. The name honors the late Gloria Schultens. who donated the property at 2505 West 7th that will be the location for the facility. The naming announcement was made at a groundbreaking ceremony this morning. Community Action Executive Director Kenny LaPoint said Schultens had a vision for the project. The Gloria Center is targeted to open at the start of next year, and will serve as a multi-agency service center and emergency overnight shelter. It is intended to be a one-stop resource hub providing services that work toward eliminating poverty and houselessness in the community. The agencies to be housed at the Center include Community Action, the Mid-Columbia Center for Living, One Community Health, the Oregon Human Development Corporation, Nch’Iwana Housing, the Department of Human Services, the Columbia Gorge Health Council, and its Bridges to Health program.
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Klickitat County Commission Continues Solar Moratorium
Klickitat County Commissioners this week continued their current moratorium on solar development proposals over one acre in size and located in the Goldendale and Centerville valleys. The Commission asked Planning Director Mo-Chi Lindblad to provide findings of fact for the moratorium at their meeting next week. That after one hour of at time contentious discussions, most notably between Chair Dan Christopher and Commissioner Jacob Anderson, on the goal of what is to be accomplished as a result of the moratorium. Christopher said he is looking for more specific regulations for industrial solar farm siting to be done in an expedited manner, but added he is asking the Prosecuting Attorney’s office to allow the Commission to hire an attorney who specializes in land use to advise them. Lindblad will also be providing a work plan for developing ordinance revisions to deal with industrial solar projects.
Hood River County Agencies Starting Fentanyl Education Campaign
The Hood River County Prevention Department and the Hood River County Health Department are embarking on an education campaign around the synthetic opioid fentanyl. Fake pills sold illegally are often laced with fentanyl, and even a dose as small as two milligrams is lethal. One of the aims of the campaign is to increase the availability of opioid rescue medications such as naloxone, which is a nasal spray that can be used to rapidly reverse opioid overdose to give time for emergency medical attention to be provided.
Student Taken Into Custody After Alleged Threat
A Stevenson High School student was taken into custody on Wednesday after allegedly asking another student to “shoot up the school.” A statement from the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office says there was no plan in place and no intent from the recipient of the text message to cause harm. The Sheriff’s Office added it was not necessary to place the school into lockdown as there was no direct threat on campus. School staff had contacted the Sheriff’s Office immediately after receiving word of the threat. The Sheriff’s Office says the juvenile suspect was taken into custody and booked into the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Juvenile Detention Center, adding it is an active case and further details are being investigated.
CGCC Aviation Program Students Have Jobs Waiting For Them
The first cohort of students is moving through Columbia Gorge Community College’s Aviation Maintenance Technology program. CGCC Director of Technology and Trades Robert Clark says those students have jobs waiting for them when they are done, with industry partners committing to hiring all of their graduates. The program is currently based in a former warehouse, but plans to move to Columbia Gorge Regional Airport in Dallesport. Clark says they are awaiting a bill in the Oregon Legislature authored by 26th District Senator Daniel Bonham that will allow the move across the river, where the program’s industry partners are located.
Newhouse & Rodgers Introduce Dam Protection Bill
Washington Representatives Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers have introduced a bill to protect Lower Snake River Dams. The legislation entitled the “Northwest Energy Security Act” supports the Federal Columbia River Power System. It directs the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) to be operated in alignment with the 2020 Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement Decision. Published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and Bonneville Power Administration in September of that year, the decision found that the Lower Snake River Dams should not be breached, with efforts focused on improving and maintaining hydropower assets while working to improve salmon passage and conditions. Senators Jim Risch of Idaho and Steve Daines of Montana introduced a companion bill in the Senate.
March 22 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
The Dalles 15, Taft 1: Braden Schwartz went 4 for 4 with three doubles and fire runs batted in to lead the Riverhawks’ offense.
Softball
The Dalles 9, Yamhill-Carlton 7: Maddie Brock homered and drove in two runs while Madalynn Sagapolutele and Despina Seufalemua also had two RBI apiece to lead the Riverhawks.
Stevenson 8, Kalama 4
Busy May Election Set For Hood River County
The special districts election on May 16 will be a very busy one in Hood River County, with the majority of the offices on the ballot with multiple candidates. All three Hood River County School District board positions are contested, with position 1 incumbent Chrissy Reitz opposed by Katelyn Logan, current position 3 seat holder Corinda Hankins Elliott seeking re-election against Joe Correa and Sarah Jensen Roth, and Brenda Bounds and David Stuben are the candidates for position 5. There is one contested Port of Hood River Commission race, with Jim Klaas and Tor Bicher filing for position 5. In addition, there are nine people running for three seats on the Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District board. In Wasco County, the only contested race for the North Wasco County School District 21 board is for zone 1, with current member Adrian Lopez and Katie Kuehnl on the ballot.
Three Bills By Waters Pass Senate Committee
Three bills from Washington 17th District State Rep. Kevin Waters have been voted out of committee. All three bills were passed in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on Tuesday. House Bill 1730 would allow youth between the ages of 18 to 20 to be employed in establishments traditionally classified as off-limits to persons under the age of 21, under specific and limited circumstances. Additionally, the committee passed House Bill 1731. which allow short-term rental operators, such as individuals who rent properties through Airbnb, to acquire permits to provide one complimentary bottle of wine to rental guests who are at least 21 years old, under certain conditions. And House Bill 1772, which would make it illegal to manufacture, import, offer, or sell in Washington a consumable product that contains cannabis or any form of tetrahydrocannabinol in combination with beer, wine, spirits, or any other type of liquor in the same product, is also moving forward. All three bills now wait for a vote from the entire Senate.
Little Royals Contest Starts
The 2023 Little Royals Contest for this year’s 42nd Northwest Cherry Festival is getting underway. One boy and one girl between the ages of 3 and 7 will be selected to represent Little Miss Royal Ann and Little Mister Royal Andy. The Little Royal Court gets crowned at the Coronation Breakfast on April 22 before the Cherry Festival Parade. The winner will receive a backpack full of goodies, a gift certificate to Fred Meyer’s, and get to ride in the Cherry Festival Parade. To nominate your child, fill out the application at NorthwestCherryFestival.com or get one online at Rivermark Community Credit Union or The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce until April 3, including a photograph of your child. Online voting will start April 5. More information is available at NorthwestCherryFestival.com.