Sherman County Sheriff’s Officers are investigating a wrong-way driving incident on Interstate 84 last Saturday evening. The Sheriff’s Office says deputies tried to stop a white, early 2000’s 2-door Honda Civic at 9:12 Saturday night. The vehicle began driving the wrong direction on I-84, first from about mile post 104 to 107 it was eastbound in the westbound lane, then from about mile post 104 to 102 it was westbound in the eastbound lane. The car then crossed the Biggs Bridge into Washington and disappeared. If you witnessed the incident or have information about it, please contact the Sherman County Sheriff’s Office.
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Mosbrucker Retains Public Safety Panel Seat
Washington 14th District State Representative Gina Mosbrucker has been reappointed ranking Republican on the House Community Safety, Justice, and Reentry Committee, formerly the House Public Safety Committee. Mosbrucker has also been reappointed to the House Capital Budget Committee. The committee considers the state capital budget, which approves money for the construction and repair of public buildings and for other long-term investments, such as land acquisitions and transfers. The 14th District lawmaker has also been chosen to serve on the House Health Care and Wellness Committee. That panel considers a broad range of issues relating to physical and behavioral health care services, long-term care, licensing of health care facilities, credentialing of health care providers, regulations of pharmaceuticals, and affordability and access to health insurance. Mosbrucker will begin her fifth term in office serving the 14th Legislative District when the 2023 Legislature convenes in Olympia on January 9.
More Than 140,000 Pikeminnow Caught This Season
The Bonneville Power Administration says in 2022, anglers caught and removed more than 140,000 northern pikeminnow from the Columbia and Snake rivers, helping protect hundreds of thousands of young salmon and steelhead from predation. Nearly 1,200 people registered to be part of the Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Program that ran from May 1 through Sept. 30. In total, anglers removed 140,121 of the salmon-eating predators from the two rivers, earning over $1.36 million for their efforts. The program, funded by the BPA, pays registered anglers $6 to $10 per fish, nine inches or longer. This year, the top angler registered with the Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Program earned $69,230, catching almost 7,000 fish in just five months. Northern pikeminnow are significant predators, consuming millions of young salmon and steelhead every year. Since 1991, anglers paid through the program have removed approximately 5.4 million pikeminnow from the Columbia and Snake rivers, reducing predation on young salmon and steelhead by up to 40 percent. The Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife collaboratively manage the Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Program.
TD Public Works Issues Pipes Reminder With Cold Coming
Very cold temperatures are forecast later this week, and The Dalles Public Works Department is asking people to take a few simple steps to reduce the risk of burst pipes before freezing weather sets in. Check that your water meter is insulated by lifting the small metal door on your water meter, and if the thermal blanket is missing, call the Public Works Department. Drain or blow out all irrigation systems, remove hoses from outside faucets and install an insulated cover on faucets, and insulate or install heat tape on water pipes exposed to the cold. If you have installed heat tapes, check to be sure they are working. Make sure all foundation vents are closed or plugged, secure basements against the cold, and look for your main shut-off valve, usually located where the water pipe enters your house. If you do not have a main shut-off valve, install one in case of emergency. For more information go to thedalles.org/waterdistribution.
December 16-17 Prep Sports Roundup
Boys Basketball
South Eugene 95, The Dalles 56
Columbia 54, Hudson’s Bay 45
Stevenson 52, Hudson’s Bay 48
Stevenson 61, Lyle-Wishram 26
Weston-McEwen 79, South Wasco 73 (OT)
South Wasco 61, Heppner 47
Dufur 66, Trout Lake 48
Horizon Christian 52, Dufur 40
Trout Lake 69, Lyle-Wishram 43
Ione-Arlington 62, Sherman 53
Klickitat-Glenwood 43, Griswold 40
Goldendale 60, Granger 54
Goldendale 55, Highland 23
Girls Basketball
The Dalles 56, Columbia 41
Stevenson 45, Lyle-Wishram 6
Hudson’s Bay 65, Stevenson 16
Trout Lake 55, Dufur 23
Trout Lake 75, Lyle-Wishram 8
Horizon Christian 51, Dufur 34
South Wasco 54, Weston-McEwen 46
South Wasco 48, Heppner 33
Ione-Arlington 32, Sherman 30
Klickitat-Glenwood 42, Griswold 37
Goldendale 50, Granger 38
Goldendale 59, Highland 9
Wrestling
Hood River Valley’s Connor Farlow finished second at 113 pounds at a tournament at Liberty High School, as HRV finished 14th in the team standings. In the girls’ portion of the event, the Eagles’ Lauraine Smith was second at 155 pounds, with HRV finishing 17th as a team.
Columbia won one out of four matches in the Bruin Invitational team duals in hosted.
Matthew Gray finished second in the 145 pound division for Goldendale at the Cadet Classic at Eisenhower, with the Timberwolves 15th in the team standings.
City Of Hood River Developing 2023 Work Plan
The Hood River City Council and municipal staff recently began to develop a work plan for the upcoming year. Some of the priority issues like housing and homelessness, and development of the Heights and Westside urban renewal districts, will be on the list. But there are other issues that could be on the list, and City Manager Abigail Elder notes one is a return to considering a new police station, something that has been discussed in recent years. Elder says the Council will probably formalize the work plan sometime in January. Three new members will be coming on board at the start of the year. They participated in the work plan session.
WAGAP Searching For Fresh Food Supplier
Washington Gorge Action Programs continues looking for a replacement for their most affordable supplier of proteins and fresh foods that discontinued service to rural counties in the state. WAGAP Executive Director Leslie Naramore says they’ve been scrambling to find a new source, noting the foods that were being provided are expensive to acquire. In the interim, WAGAP Associate Director Jennifer Pauletto says they are working with other partners to provide a replacement. Naramore says they also receive fresh foods from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and local suppliers.
Klickitat County Commission Adopts New Model Decommissioning Plan
Klickitat County Commissioners this week adopted its findings supporting a new model decommissioning plan for solar and wind projects in the County. Commissioner David Sauter noted it took some time to get to this plan, as every topic seemed to bring a new set of questions for the panel to address. In the end the Commission made four major changes from the current model decommissioning document, including removing an option for a parent company to make financial guarantees, removing scrap value credits, and tightening language on returning land to the condition it was in prior to a renewable energy project. Sauter also said a security bond must now be in place before any construction begins. The model acts as a template for individual decommissioning agreements the County enters into for renewable energy projects.
New Drop Off Points For NCPHD Coat Drive
North Central Public Health District’s first-ever coat drive has added two more drop-off points for donations of coats for men and women in all sizes. Now, in addition to dropping off coats at the district office on 419 E. 7th St., donors can bring clean, new or gently used adult coats to La Michoacana, at 1210 Kelly Ave., and Grocery Outlet, at 1300 W. 6th St. All locations are in The Dalles. The coats are being given to Mid-Columbia Community Action Council. They are also asking for donations of new clean adult socks. The coat drive will conclude January 31.
Polar Plunge Entries Being Accepted
Entries for Central Klickitat County Parks and Recreation District’s 17th annual Polar Plunge are being taken. The plunge into the Columbia River on New Year’s morning at 10 a.m. will take place in the Columbia River at Maryhill State Park. Funds raised by the Polar Plunge go towards providing children’s swimming lessons at the district’s pool in Goldendale. For registration information, go to centralklickitatparksandrecreation.com.