Medicare’s Open Enrollment period will open on October 15, and assistance is available for people to navigate the Medicare system through the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance, or SHIBA, counseling program.  The Mid-Columbia Senior Center sponsors the program in the local area.  SHIBA counselor Sue Ann Arguelles says the open enrollment period is a time for people to look at their plans, and what changes might be appropriate for them.  To make an appointment with a SHIBA counselor at both the Mid-Columbia Senior Center and the Hood River Valley Adult Center, or by phone, call 541-288-8341.

Washington Gorge Action Programs has added an associate director to help increase outreach and remove barriers for people seeking services. Jennifer Pauletto says the goal is to get out in the community to promote what WAGAP has available. She added it’s also important to participate in outreach events to better understand what the community is looking for. Pauletto previously worked with HAVEN, Gorge Grown Food Network, and Mid-Columbia Children’s Council Head Start.

Girls Soccer

Cle Elum-Roslyn 6, Goldendale 1

  Volleyball

Castle Rock def. Columbia 3-0

LaCenter def. Stevenson 3-0

South Wasco def. Horizon Christian 25-7, 25-5, 25-11

Klickitat-Glenwood def. Dufur 25-14, 20-25, 21-25, 25-20, 15-13

 

The Hood River City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to establish a tax exemption program for not-for-profit builders of affordable housing.  To be eligible for the exemption, the property must be owned or being purchased by an eligible nonprofit corporation, and either already occupied by low-income persons or is being held for development of low-income housing.  Oregon state statutes authorize cities to exempt certain non-profit corporations from property taxes when they develop housing to address local shortages in available and affordable housing.  While developing the City’s affordable housing strategy, municipal officials were told by non-profit housing developers that tax exemptions are important tools in building and maintaining housing that is affordable to limited income households and in helping to stabilize a developer’s investment over the lifetime of the project.

The Dalles Community Outreach Team has returned from its semi-annual trip to Washington, D.C. to push for projects and policies of interest to various area agencies.  City Manager Matthew Klebes says they met with a number of different agencies and representatives during the nearly week-long tour of the nation’s capital.  Among the topics the team advocated for:  a new hanger at the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport with infrastructure, a Q-Life co-location facility to better distribute fiber optic service and provide disaster resiliency, improving forest management policy to protect The Dalles’ watershed from fire, Port Marina fire recovery assistance, and continuation of Payment In Lieu of Taxes and Secure Rural Schools funding.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo formally announced Tuesday the Economic Development Administration is awarding a $2.8 million grant to Klickitat County to develop an aviation maintenance training facility at Columbia Gorge Regional Airport and provide related infrastructure improvements, including water, sewer, and electrical services.  This project will provide the resources and infrastructure necessary to better prepare students for in-demand jobs in aviation maintenance.  The EDA investment will be matched with $700,000 in local funds and according to estimates is expected to help create 70 jobs, retain 53 jobs, and generate $6 million in private investment.  Washington Governor Jay Inslee said the state’s aerospace and aviation industry has a long history of providing jobs, and this project will help train and employ more people looking for a career in aviation.

A 34-year-old Hood River man was taken into custody on Sunday for his alleged involvement in two stabbings.  According to the Hood River Police Department, Feliciano Aguilar Chavez was arrested after officers responded to a disturbance at 1823 Cascade Avenue.  Police say two people, 25-year-old Julio Lopez Vasquez and 24-year-old Selvin Gomez Pirir were taken to Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital for treatment of injuries.  Chavez was booked and lodged at NORCOR on a charge of Assault 1.

Boys Soccer</p> Hood River Valley 5, Canby 2</p> Madras 4, The Dalles 2</p> Southwest Christian 5, Horizon Christian 2</p>   Girls Soccer</p> Canby 1, Hood River Valley 0</p> The Dalles 7, Madras 3</p> Trout Lake 2, Banks 1</p>   Volleyball</p> The Dalles def. Gladstone 25-7, 25-14, 25-11…now 3-1 in the TVC</p>

Klickitat County Commissioners are working on revising a decommissioning plan for large-scale renewable energy projects that are built in the County.  The ordinance was originally put together in 2008 primarily for wind projects, and the County is looking to update it to address solar projects.  County Commissioner David Sauter says changes they are looking at include no longer considering credit for recycle value of components, and specific language for battery storage and testing during decommissioning to determine if cleanup needs to be done.  The County Planning Department was asked to revise the proposed ordinance changes to include the elimination of the recycle credit and the language specifics, and will bring it back for continuation of a public hearing on Tuesday at 2:30 in the County Services Building in Goldendale.

Washington Gorge Action Programs will expand operations of its new Mobile Food Bank into Skamania County starting in October.   On the second Thursday of each month, the Mobile Food Bank will be at the Skamania General Store from 9:30 to 11:30 in the morning, and then in Mill A at Evergreen Community Church from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.  Klickitat County routes remain the same.  On the first Thursday of each month the Mobile Food Bank will be at Wishram School from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Dallesport Community Center from noon to 2 p.m., and the Lyle Lions Club from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.  On the third Thursday of each month it goes to Mt. Adams Baptist Church in Trout Lake from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and then at the BZ Corner Community Building from noon to 2 p.m.  In addition to the Mobile Food Bank, the WAGAP Food Bank Network continues to operate its permanent locations in Bingen, Goldendale, Klickitat, and Stevenson.