Washington 17th District State Representative Paul Harris has introduced a bill to give educators who have received a reprimand the opportunity for redemption. House Bill 1113 would require the Professional Educator Standards Board to adopt rules for reviewing and vacating reprimands issued to certificated professional educators. Currently, there is no process in place to vacate a reprimand on an educator’s certificate. Harris says he brought the issue forward last session because he believes people deserve a second chance, and teachers sometime make poor judgments that can result in reprimand on their educator certificate that can limit career opportunities and advancement. The bill received a public hearing on Tuesday in the House Education Committee.
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WAGAP Mobile Food Bank Adds Roosevelt Stop
Washington Gorge Action Programs is expanding operations of the Mobile Food Bank in Klickitat County, adding a new route to Roosevelt. The mobile food bank will be at Pueblo Del Rio apartments in Roosevelt from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the 4th Thursday of every month, beginning January 26. The mobile food bank makes stops the First Thursday of each month at Wishram School from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Dallesport Community Center from noon to 2:00 p.m., and the Lyle Lions Club from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. On the second Thursday of each month it stops at the Skamania General Store from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and in Mill A at the Evergreen Community Church from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Then on the third Thursday of each month in Klickitat County it goes to Mt. Adams Baptist Church in Trout Lake from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and the BZ Corner Community Building from noon to 2:00 p.m. In addition to the Mobile Food Bank, the WAGAP Food Bank Network will retain its permanent locations in Bingen, Goldendale, Klickitat, and Stevenson. The network allows individuals and families in need to receive supplemental food supplies once per month at any of these locations.
Hood River Sheriff’s Office Warns Of Scam Calls
The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office says it has received reports of residents receiving phone calls from people claiming to represent the Sheriff’s Office. In some cases, the scammers are even using the names of actual Sheriff’s Office employees or utilizing a spoofing system to have the Sheriff’s Office phone number appear on Caller ID. If you receive a call out of the blue from someone claiming to be from the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, and they ask you to do anything such as provide your personal information or pay a fine over the phone, the Sheriff’s Office says to immediately advise them that you will call them right back, hang up, and call the Hood River County Dispatch non-emergency line at 541-386-2711. If there is a Sheriff’s Office employee who is actually trying to contact you for a legitimate reason, they will re-connect you with that employee. You should never provide any kind of payment over the phone to anyone who calls you up out of the blue, no matter how legitimate it may sound.
January 17 Prep Sports Roundup
Boys Basketball
Parkrose 52, Hood River Valley 41: A cold shooting night from the outside prevented the Eagles from getting any consistent offense going. Ben Livingston and Julius Blair scored 13 points apiece for the Broncos, while Isaiah Poole led HRV with 11.
Crook County 61, The Dalles 54: The Riverhawks lost on the road in their Tri-Valley Conference opener.
South Wasco 92, Klickitat-Glenwood 48
North Lake-Paisley 40, Sherman 36
Irrigon 77, Trout Lake 53
Goldendale 48, Walla Walla Academy 44
Girls Basketball
Hood River Valley 64, Parkrose 30: Abby Schrankel scored 21 points and Grace Rowan added 15 as the Eagles won their first Northwest Oregon Conference game of the season.
The Dalles 47, Crook County 36: The Riverhawks were able to pull away in the second half to win their Tri-Valley Conference opener.
King’s Way Christian 44, Columbia 36
Seton Catholic 57, Stevenson 43
South Wasco 80, Klickitat-Glenwood 48
North Lake-Paisley 46, Sherman 22
Trout Lake 48, Irrigon 31
Goldendale 40, Walla Walla Academy 38
HR Schools Watching Legislative Funding Decisions
The Hood River County School District is starting to look toward budgeting for the 2023-24 academic year, and that means keeping an eye on education funding decisions to be made by the Oregon Legislature this session. District Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says early projections have K-12 funding increasing by two percent this biennium, which he says would be short of what is needed to maintain current service levels. Polkinghorn says they will start budget work in earnest over the next month. He points out the district’s local option levy has helped the district weather uncertainties at the state level, but that will expire in June, and the district will be going to voters to renew it.
White Salmon Council Setting Legislative Priorities
White Salmon City Councilors are setting their priorities for the Washington Legislative session, and housing will be a key one. Mayor Marla Keethler says they are hoping the Legislature will move forward with programs that can assist the City in its affordable housing efforts. Also expected to be on the list: Infrastructure including water and street improvements and expanding that definition into child care, plus continuing the push for the Hood River-White Salmon Bridge.
Trevitt Street Project Closures Set For Wednesday
The closure of Trevitt Street for replacement of sewer and storm main lines on Wednesday will include Pentland and Lincoln streets between 10th and 11th. It will include the alley ways from Pentland to Lincoln. The through-way intersections of 10th, 11th, 12th and Trevitt streets will be open. Work on the project requires no parking in the road closure area. Alternate detour routes for local access are available, along with access to Sorosis Park and Colonel Wright Elementary School.
January 16 Prep Basketball Scores
Boys Basketball
Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 92, Trout Lake 44
North Douglas 66, South Wasco 50
Girls Basketball
Heritage 76, Stevenson 26
Trout Lake 47, Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 14
Bridge Doesn’t Get Federal Grants In 2022
The Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Replacement project team were notified by the U.S. Department of Transportation that the project was not awarded any federal grants in 2022. Port of Hood River Executive Director Kevin Greenwood says there were four different grant applications filed, asking for between 100 million and 195 million dollars apiece. Greenwood added department officials indicated they need to complete a couple of more steps to receive federal funds, one of which is to get funding from the states in place during the 2023 legislative session. Other steps that need be completed include getting the new bi-state bridge authority approved by all the parties involved, and completing the final Environmental Impact Statement for the new bridge.
Tickets For Distinguished Citizens Gala Available Through Tuesday
Tickets remain available through Tuesday for The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce Great Gatsby Gala Distinguished Citizen Awards Banquet coming up on Thursday. Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson says after not being able to hold an in-person banquet the last couple of years, they are planning a fun night. There will be eight Distinguished Citizen Awards given out during the banquet. Tickets are available through Tuesday at thedalleschamber.com or by calling 541-296-2231. The event starts Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center.