The Dalles City Council is sending a proposed short-term rental ordinance back to staff for changes after lengthy discussions Monday night. Councilors asked municipal staff to make revisions that include a 500-foot buffer between STR’s instead of a proposed 300, a similar change to the area to notify neighbors of the presence of an STR, an amortization period for the new regulations for existing STR’s, and adjusting the procedure to report violations. Mayor Rich Mays suggested the buffers should be larger, perhaps up to 1,000 feet. The Council once again took testimony from those who live in West Scenic Drive area, where a number of homes have been purchased by an out-of-town company and are being used as short-term rentals. The residents complain of large groups, noise late at night, trespassing, parking and traffic issues, and other problems. There is currently a moratorium on new short-term rental licenses that expires near the conclusion of November. A revised proposal will be discussed at the November 25 City Council meeting, one day before moratorium expires.
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HR School Board Discusses Athletic Program
The Hood River County School District Board spent an over two-hour worksession discussing the district’s athletic program. Superintendent Bill Newton says with a fairly new athletic director in Sean Mailey now in place, it was time to do a deeper dive into issues ranging from facilities to participation rates. Newton points out the goal of the district’s athletic program is to provide connection and engagement to the student. He adds the concept of a student-athlete is very important, invested not only in their sport but also excelling in the classroom. Facilities were a key part of the discussion, with Newton pointing out there is an athletic facilities master plan developed in 2016 available as a guide.
Skamania County Sees Five Search and Rescue Missions In Eight Days
The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office says it responded to five Search and Rescue missions between October 2nd and October 10th. It started October 2nd, when two mountain bikers were reported overdue from a trip on the Ape Canyon trail, near Mount Saint Helens, and were located the next day and assisted back to their vehicle. On October 3rd, received a medical call for a subject along the Wind River at the “Hot Holes.” That person was carried out of the location and transported, via Lifelight, to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, where he later succumbed to the medical event. On October 6th, two climbers descending Mount Saint Helens called for help after going off-trail in darkness, but volunteers from the Volcano Rescue Team located the climbers and were able to assist them off the mountain and back to their vehicle. Finally on Thursday, the Sheriff’s Office received two reports of overdue subjects: a pair of hikers in the Trapper Creek Wilderness and two climbers on Mt. Hood. One of the hikers was found the next day and had to be carried out, while one self-extricated, while the climbers were assisted back to their vehicle.
October 14 Prep Spors Scoreboard
Volleyball
The Dalles def. Gladstone 25-9, 25-11, 25-8
Boys Soccer
The Dalles 2, Madras 0
Trout Lake-Glenwood 3, Southwest Christian 1
Valor Christian 6, Horizon Christian 0
Girls Soccer
The Dalles 8, Madras 0
Northern Wasco PUD Recognized By Oregon Business Magazine
Oregon Business Magazine has recognized Northern Wasco County People’s Utility District as one of the “100 Best Nonprofits to Work for in Oregon” for 2024. Ranking 21st among the Large Organizations on the list, Northern Wasco County PUD was highlighted for its commitment to employee satisfaction and workplace excellence. The annual list, which evaluates nonprofits based on employee feedback, considers various workplace factors including work environment, management and communications, mission and goals, career development and learning, and benefits and compensation. Northern Wasco PUD has 64 employees. CEO and General Manager Roger Kline said they are honored for the recognition, noting they’ve created a positive workplace while delivering electric rates at some of the lowest rates in the state.
Road Work For West 6th In The Dalles
There is some road work going on this week on West 6th Street in The Dalles. Baker Construction & Development will be completing construction of connections to the sanitary sewer and the water line on West 6th Street. During construction there will be a partial closure at 1014 West 6th with flaggers directing traffic through one lane between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. The road will be accessible overnight with traffic rated steel plates. Road closure and detours will be posted along with the flaggers in place. Meanwhile, The Dalles Public Works Department will be replacing about 500 feet of pavement on West 6th between Chenowith and Mt. Hood streets, with the eastbound lane closed between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, and the westbound lane will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday. Motorists, bicycles and pedestrians are asked to use detours around the work zone during work hours. The street will be reopened to the traveling public each evening.
Sense Of Place To Begin 15th Season
The 15th season of the Sense of Place series gets underway on Wednesday at Hood River’s Columbia Center for the Arts. Moderator Sarah Fox says Sense of Place features presenters with a unique knowledge of the Columbia River Gorge to discuss the natural and cultural history that has shaped the region. Fox notes one of the goals of Sense of Place is to bring people of different viewpoints together. The season opens with Amy Peterson discussing Matsutake mushrooms and their cultural and community importance. The presentation begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening in the Columbia Center for the Arts. Tickets are available at senseofplace.org, along with information on how to watch online.
Hood River County Looking At Broader Health & Human Services Department
Hood River County is in the midst of considering whether to move its Prevention Department and Veterans Services Officer into a Department of Health and Human Services. County Administrator Allison Williams says former City Manager Rachael Fuller has been brought in as interim Prevention Department director with the retirement of Belinda Ballah at the end of September, and Fuller will be evaluating whether creating the larger health department makes sense fiscally and operationally. Williams points out one of the issues is the ability to hire employees. Williams says the health and prevention departments already work on similar topics in tandem, and the County needs to be able to have a sustainable structure moving forward.
NCPHD Names McInnes New Director
Martha McInnes has been named North Central Public Health District’s new director, succeeding the retiring Shellie Campbell. McInnes has been the district’s clinical program supervisor for over three years, overseeing NCPHD’s medical clinic, Nurse Home Visiting program, and its Communicable Disease team. Campbell says in that time, she has improved the district’s billing system, put in a new electronic medical record system, and upgraded communicable disease reporting and data tracking, along with home visiting charting and work flows. McInnes has also an integral role in the NCPHD leadership team, helping craft policy, improving systems, hiring and training new staff, developing community relationships, and strengthening partnerships.
October 11-12 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Football
Castle Rock 34, Columbia 6
King’s Way Christian 42, Stevenson 24
Dufur 50, Sherman 14
Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 92, Country Christian 26
South Wasco 52, Ione-Arlington 13
Goldendale 42, Highland 19
Cross Country
Hood River Valley’s Logan King won the boys’ Varsity Silver Division race at the Rose City Championships in Portland. The Eagle boys finished eighth as a team, while HRV was ninth in the girls’ race.
The Dalles’ Alana Casady won the girls’ race at the Paul Mariman Invitational in Philomath, leading the Riverhawks to a second place team finish. The Dalles topped the boys’ team standings, with three of the top nine finishers. Caleb Caldwell led the Riverhawk contingent in fourth.
Goldendale’s boys were fifth at the Apple Ridge Invitational in Yakima. The Timberwolves’ Malachi Lawson was tenth. Goldendale’s Emma Meagher was seventh in the girls’ run.
Volleyball
Stevenson def. Goldendale 3-0
Cove def. Sherman 25-14, 25-23, 25-20
Union def. Sherman 25-16, 25-11, 25-22
Dufur def. Nixyaawii 25-11, 25-16, 25-9
Grand View Christian def Lyle-Wishram 25-15, 22-25, 25-13, 25-14
Willamette Valley Chr. def. Lyle-Wishram 25-11, 25-19, 25-19