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Turtle Hatchlings From Gorge Now At Oregon Zoo

Seventeen northwestern pond turtle hatchlings, each about the size of a walnut, are making themselves at home at the Oregon Zoo this summer.  Zoo conservationists are “head-starting” the endangered reptiles, caring for them until next spring when they’re big enough to have a fighting chance in the wild.  Last month, the turtle hatchlings were retrieved from sites in the Columbia Gorge, transporting them to the zoo conservation lab.  With heat lamps and plentiful food, the turtles experience summer year-round so they don’t go into hibernation. Once they reach about 50 gram, they are returned to their ponds and monitored for safety.  Guests can watch the tiny turtles grow at the conservation lab inside the zoo’s Nature Exploration Station.  The American bullfrog, native to the eastern United States but considered invasive here, can tip the scales at more than a pound and has been driving pond turtles and a host of other small, vulnerable aquatic species to the brink of extinction.  The northwestern pond turtle, also known as the western pond turtle, is listed as an endangered species in Washington and a sensitive species in Oregon.

 

 

Dutton Pleads Guilty In Agreement; Relinquishes Law Enforcement Certifications

Former The Dalles City Police Officer Jeremy Dutton has plead guilty to charges of official misconduct after reaching a plea agreement with the Wasco County District Attorney’s Office.  D.A. Kara Davis says the agreement includes significant restitution and Dutton relinquishing his law enforcement certifications.  Davis says Dutton paid restitution of over $8,000 to the City of The Dalles representing money he received after submitting falsified time cards, which the City agreed to accept as part of a civil compromise.  She adds as part of his probation, Dutton has agreed to resign from The Dalles Police Department and surrender his Oregon Bureau of Public Safety Standards and Training certifications.  Davis noted Dutton is a combat veteran, and her office’s policy extends any veteran without a previous record the offer of a civil compromise or diversion if available for the charges.  She said while Dutton was extended that courtesy, it was equally important that this case not be disregarded, which is why a conviction for official misconduct was pursued.  Davis says The City of The Dalles and the Police Department felt the plea agreement was a fair resolution of the case.

The Dalles Council Approves Tourism Promotion Contract With Chamber

The Dalles City Council approved a three-year tourism promotion services contract with The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce, coming after an ad hoc committee evaluated proposals from five applicants.  City Manager Matthew Klebes told the Council the committee that did the evaluation work noted it was an opportunity to assess how tourism recruitment and destination management should occur in The Dalles.  The contract calls for the Chamber to hire an Executive Tourism Director, and for the City and Chamber to create a Destination Development Plan.  In other business, the Council approved moving forward with replacement of the HVAC system at The Dalles-Wasco County Library in a 50-50 split with the library district as called for in their Intergovernmental Agreement, with the intent for the system to be installed this fall.

Suspect In Vehicle Theft Sought

Law enforcement is looking for the driver of a stolen vehicle that collided with a semi-truck on Highway 97 in Klickitat County on Sunday.  According to a statement from the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy attempted to stop a vehicle going over the speed limit.  During the pursuit, the suspect vehicle went off the road and then collided with the semi-truck traveling in the same direction.  That damaged the vehicle that eventually came to a stop off the roadway with the suspect running from the scene.  The Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office says the suspect vehicle was found to be stolen out of Yakima County, and items from a Klickitat County burglary were recovered from it.  The suspect remains at large.

Klickitat County Taking Property Insurance Survey

The Klickitat County Department of Emergency Management is asking County residents participate in the 2025 Klickitat County Wildfire Property Insurance Survey.  County officials say this survey is designed to gain information and feedback from Klickitat County residents in regards to homeowners or renters wildfire property insurance denial, reduction in coverage, non-renewal, or a significant increase in premiums over the past 36 months.  The survey is to provide information that Klickitat County officials can use in their efforts to seek a solution to property insurance issues, and assistance when contacting Washington State officials and offices.  Residents can complete the survey using a link that can be found on the Klickitat County Deaprtment of Emergency Management website at klickitatcounty.org and the Klickitat County 911 Dispatch / Emergency Management Facebook Page.

YouthThink Hosting Gaming Discussion

YouthThink in Wasco County will host an event Wednesday at Chenowith Elementary School revolving around gaming.  YouthThink’s Debby Jones says they’ve partnered with The Dalles High School’s e-sports club to host the program revolving around their slogan “Good Gaming.”  Those students will make up part of a panel discussion.  There will also be gaming consoles set up so kids can play some of the games the e-sports club competes in at the state level.  Jones says it will run from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, and it’s open to kids and their families.

Wildfire Preparation Publication Available

A number of agency partners, including Hood River County Emergency Management and the Oregon State University Extension Service, have come out with a new publication called “Before Wildfire Strikes.”  It’s a guide to improving wildfire preparedness and living with fire in Hood River County.  County Emergency Management Director Charles Young says it lists actions citizens can take regardless of whether they live in a rural or urban setting.  Along with tips for preparing your home and property to withstand fire, the publication also includes a checklist of what you should prepare in case of the need to evacuate.  “Before Wildfire Strikes” is available at fire stations and city and county buildings, and online at most county fire department websites.

Columbia Gateway URA Incentive Program Gets Update

The Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency has updated its incentive program for development in the downtown core.  The revised program will now offer up to $300,000 per property in matching funds for eligible projects to use on interior upgrades, safety and code compliance, and mixed-use redevelopment.  City of The Dalles Economic Development Officer Jacob Anderson says the maximum has gone up from $50,000.  There are new incentives to support housing development downtown, and a streamlined approval process for smaller projects.  Application information is available at thedalles.org.

Ground Broken For Mariposa Village

Community leaders took part Friday in the groundbreaking for Mariposa Village, the largest affordable rental housing project in Hood River since 2011.  The 130-unit development is at 780 Rand Road.  Community Development Partners and Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation are co-developers of Mariposa Village, on land donated by the City of Hood River.  Scheduled to open in two phases starting in summer 2026, Mariposa Village will serve households earning up to 60 percent of the area median income (AMI), which for a four-person household in Hood River County is $64,140.  Of the 130 apartments, 39 come with federal housing vouchers that will enable them to serve residents with incomes up to 60 percent of AMI.  The seven-acre site will feature seven buildings with studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments and townhomes, amid trees and green space.  Mariposa Village will also include a public park with a playground, walking paths and landscape design that protects on-site wetlands, along with the extension of two trails that connect to the city’s trail network.

May 30-31 Prep Sports Roundup

A victory by Julian Morehouse in the pole vault led The Dalles to a tie for fourth in the Oregon Class 4A boys’ track and field championships.  Morehouse cleared 14’ 7 ½” to score the win.  The Riverhawks’ River McClure was second in the 300 meter hurdles, Tyson Long took second in the 800, Derek Goulart fourth in the high jump, the four by 100 meter relay team was fourth, and David McCracken fifth in the 200 and seventh in the 100.  For the Riverhawk girls, Willow Ziegenhagen was fifth in the high jump, Alana Casady sixth in the 3,000 meters, and the four by 400 meter relay squad was sixth.

Savina Davis led the Hood River Valley effort in the Oregon Class 5A track and field championships with a third place finish in the girls’ 800 meters.  Sylvaine Farr was fifth in the girls’ pole vault, Jack Miller sixth in the boys’ javelin,  and HRV received eighth place finishes from Logan King in the boys’ 3000 meters, Syl Perrin in the girls’ 3000, and Francisco Solberg in the boys’ pole vault.

Melody Stock won the girls’ 1500 meters to lead Trout Lake to a fourth place finish at the Oregon Class 1A track and field championships in Eugene.  Stock set a classification record with the win, with a time of 4:51.26.  The Mustangs’ Violette Anderson was third in the shot put and seventh in the 100 meter hurdles, Cora Sharp was seventh in the 100 meters, with the four by 400 meter relay team taking fourth and the four by 100 relay finishing seventh.  Horizon Christian was seventh in the boys’ competition, with Charlie Haynie taking third in both the 110 and 300 hurdles, the four by 400 meter relay team taking sixth, the four by 100 relay squad in seventh, and Landon Whitaker finishing seventh in the boys’ long jump.  In addition, the Hawks’ Hannah Adams was third in the girls’ 100 hurdles.  South Wasco had a number of placing finishes on the final day of the meet, including Jayda Iverson second in the girls’ 800 and sixth in the 400, Bailey Udey was fifth in the girls’ long jump, and Storm McCoy seventh in the boys’ javelin.  Sherman’s T’Sharra Lanthorn was sixth in the girls’ 800 and Michael Blagg eighth in the boys 800.  Lyle-Wishram’s Ezekiel Marble took fifth in the boys’ 110 hurdles and seventh in the 300 hurdles, and Dufur’s Ellie Brock was fourth in the girls 400.

Goldendale’s Matthew Gray won the boys’ 200 meters at the Washington Class 2B track and field championships in Yakima.  He took the title in a time of 22.04 seconds. He also finished third in the 100 metes and fourth in the long jump.  Teammate Seth Wilder was sixth in the shot put.

In the Washington Class 1A track and field championships, Columbia’s Saylor Hague was second in the girls’ 300 meter hurdles and added a seventh place finish in the high jump.  Samantha Evans of CHS was second in the girls’ high jump, while Gavin Clifford of CHS was second in the boys’ ambulatory 200 meters and third in the ambulatory 100.  Stevenson’s Olivia Fauth was seventh in the girls’ long jump.

 

Washington Class 1A Boys Soccer at Federal Way

Semi-Final:  The Bush School 1, Columbia 0

Third Place:  King’s Way Christian 4, Columbia 2

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