The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson recently attended a conference on how to make tourism destinations accessible to those with visible and non-visible disabilities. Farquharson says those people can face a number of hurdles to traveling. She says some of the things that can be done are simple for a business to do. In an area where tourism is largely based on outdoor activities, Farquharson says things like better signage can be a big assist. Farquharson notes those with disabilities make up 15 to 20 percent of the tourism market.
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November 15-16 Prep Sports Roundup
Washington Class 1A Volleyball Tournament
First Round: Stevenson def. Lynden Christian 26-24, 27-25, 25-23
Quarterfinal: Chelan def. Stevenson 25-14, 25-12, 25-21
Consolation: Cashmere def. Stevenson 25-22, 25-18, 25-18
Oregon Class 1A 8-Man Football Playoffs
Quarterfinals
North Douglas 42, Dufur 36
Crosspoint Christian 58, Sherman 40
Oregon Class 1A 6-Man Football Playoffs
Quarterfinal
South Wasco 52, North Lake 45: The Redsides advance to the semi-finals, and will face top-seed Powers this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Cottage Grove.
Washington Class 2B Football Playoffs
First Round
Freeman 43, Goldendale 34
MCCAC Issues Report For 2023
Mid-Columbia Community Action Council says it supported over 3,000 community members in 2023 through more than $4.4 million in program services and client assistance. The agency recently released its 2023 annual report. MCCAC Executive Director Kenny LaPoint says the opening of The Annex Traditional Housing and Shelter facility in The Dalles during 2023 was a major milestone in their efforts to address houselessness in region. The report says 149 people were transitioned into long-term stable housing, 200 community members at risk of eviction maintained their housing, over 17,000 nights of shelter were provided in Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties, and over 2100 people received utility assistance. MCCAC’s report also said 51% of utility assistance and weatherization program participants identified as Native, Latinx, or BIPOC community members.
Festival Of Trees Tickets On Sale
Tickets are on sale now for Adventist Heath Columbia Gorge Foundation’s Festival of Trees gala on December 6 at The Dalles Civic Auditorium. The Foundation’s Amanda Evans says they have 15 groups committed to decorating trees to be auctioned off to benefit the Celilo Cancer Center Patient Assistance Fund and equipment needs at the hospital in The Dalles. Tickets for the gala are $20, and available at mcmc.net. It begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, December 6, and it is a 21-and-over event. The trees will be on display for the public the on Saturday, December 7 from at the festival’s annual community day from 9 a.m. to noon.
Funding For Westside Middle Housing Incentive Put In Place
The financial sources to seed a Middle Housing Construction Incentive Program for Hood River’s Westside Urban Renewal District were put in place. The Hood River Urban Renewal Agency board approved accepting a $500,000 loan from the Oregon Investment Board, and then the City Council approved providing a matching loan of the same amount. Urban Renewal Administrator Will Norris says the loans won’t be disbursed until the Westside district begins to provide incentive payments to builders, and that will not happen for at least six months, and probably a year. The money will be paid back through funds accrued by tax-increment financing for the Westside district.
Lance Named Q-Life Executive Director
Dr. Liz Lance has been selected as Q-Life’s first executive director. The agency board says Lance brings extensive operational leadership experience along with a personal understanding of broadband’s transformative impact in Wasco County. She has over a decade of strategic technology leadership experience, most recently serving as Chief of Staff at the analytics firm Performica. With Q-Life, Lance will focus on expanding the agency’s 17-mile fiber optic network further into Wasco County while maintaining reliable, cost-effective telecommunications infrastructure that enhances regional economic development. Lance is currently the Secretary for Dufur Volunteer Fire and Ambulance.
HR County Evaluating Future Building Needs
Hood River County has started the process of evaluating its building needs in the future. County Commissioners recently approved a contract with DLR Architects to update a 2015 space needs and site evaluation report, covering the Courthouse, Sheriff’s Office, and administrative functions. County Administrator Allison Williams says they will be starting in a couple of weeks. Williams noted the current cost of new courthouses is a $1,000 a square foot, which means Hood River County may need to be creative to find a way to address its building needs.
November 13 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Washington Class 2B Volleyball Tournament at Yakima Valley Sundome
First Round
Freeman def. Goldendale 25-9, 25-16, 25-10
Consolation
Davenport def. Goldendale 23-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-18
Klickitat County Jail Transfer Coming In December
Klickitat County is on track to transfer administration of its jail from the Sheriff’s Office to a new Department of Corrections in three weeks. County Human Resources Director Robb Van Cleave reported to County Commissioners on Tuesday that he will present them the resolution for the transfer at the panel’s December 3 meeting. Van Cleave says he will present an organizational chart for Commission approval on November 26. One of the challenges for the new jail administrator will be dealing with the provider of meals for the facility. Van Cleave says he was informed by concessionaire Aramark that the company is losing $100,000 a year on their contract, which is up at the end of the year. He notes Aramark won’t renew at that kind of loss.
Helfrich Won’t Seek Leadership Position
Oregon 52nd District State Representative Jeff Helfrich announced he will not seek another term as House Republican Leader. The Hood River resident was narrowly reelected to his seat in last week’s election, holding off Democrat challenger Nick Walden Poublon by at last count 1,281 votes. Helfrich cited in a press release the desire to spend more time with his family, particularly in the wake of the recent death of his father. However, in a letter Helfrich wrote to his House colleagues obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive, he said his time as leader took a toll on him, and what he was not prepared for was the endless drama within the GOP caucus, adding those fights were tougher than those with Democratic leadership. He wrote that he thought of the caucus as a team and he was the captain, and instead he found himself playing a solo in the band and his own teammates heckling him along the way. Helfrich goes on to say in the letter that if they want to win, they need to be united.