Work to relocate a NW Natural gas line at the intersection of Tucker Road and Orchard Road south of Hood River is now expected to continue through next Friday, March 8. NW Natural indicated the project schedule has been extended due to delays associated with inclement weather. Tucker Road through the construction area is closed during work hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, except for emergency vehicles, school buses, local residents and businesses. Traffic will detour at Barker Road for eastbound traffic on Tucker Road, and at Guignard Road for southbound traffic on Tucker Road. Other detour routes are available at Indian Creek Road for northbound Tucker Road and Brookside Drive for southbound Tucker Road traffic. NW Natural is relocating the gas line at Nobi’s Corner to accommodate an Oregon Department of Transportation project later this summer.
Waters Bill For Fish Barrier Sponsorship Headed To Govenor
The Washington State Senate unanimously approved a bipartisan bill from 17th District Rep. Kevin Waters on Wednesday that would give a boost to the state’s efforts to remove fish barriers in Washington. House Bill 2045 would facilitate the removal of fish barriers on lands owned by local governments by creating the “Adopt a Fish Barrier” program, through which local governments may receive private donations. The Stevenson Republican’s legislation would coordinate with current fish barrier programs to pair donations with grant applications already in progress. The Recreation and Conservation Office would keep a list of projects suited to receiving private donations so a person could choose to which project they donate. Donations of $10,000 or more would be recognized with a sign at the corrected barrier. Donations of $100,000 or more would also receive a plaque signed by the governor with their name, the location of the project, the amount and year of the donation, and the fish species benefitting from their donation. House Bill 2045 now heads to the governor’s desk to await his signature.
Madsen Talks Housing With HR City Council
Mid-Columbia Housing Authority and Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation Executive Director Joel Madsen gave a presentation on the agency’s efforts to Hood River City Councilors. Madsen says they are always looking to partner with local governments, and expand their relationship with the City of Hood River to reach both of their goals. He also noted there has never been as much attention to housing at all governmental levels as there is now, and that is a huge opportunity in many ways, so advocacy from local governments is important. Madsen noted the housing market is not working for many people at various economic levels.
City Of The Dalles Getting Ready For Budget Work
City of The Dalles officials are getting ready to embark on the budgeting process for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Earlier this month the City received good marks in its annual audit, and Mayor Rich Mays says the City is in good fiscal health, noting the general fund that pays for day-to-day operations is in good shape. Among the issues to be discussed during the municipal budget process: requests for funding from local non-profit organizations, and how the City should handle increased revenues from Google projects.
February 27 Prep Basketball Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
Parkrose 75, Hood River Valley 41
Girls Basketball
Hood River Valley 59, Parkrose 36
Klickitat County Hires New Planning Director
Klickitat County has hired Scott Edelman to be its new planning director. Edelman had been with Jefferson County in Central Oregon as its Community Development Director, and before that was with the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development. Klickitat County Commissioner Lori Zoller says Edelman brings a wide skill set to the position. Edelman will start his job in Klickitat County in the early part of March. He’ll be dealing with helping the County with a number of plan revisions that have been facing the County in recent months.
Training Class On Caring For Home Orchard Trees Scheduled
Central Gorge Master Gardeners will be holding a training class on how to care for home orchard trees on March 6, and it will be open to the public. It will be taught by OSU Hood River and Wasco County Extension tree fruit horticulturist Ashley Thompson. Attendees will learn about establishing and caring for a home fruit tree orchard. The Master Gardeners’ Eric Bosler says since the Central Gorge is a major commercial tree fruit area, it is important that home orchards are properly cared for. This class is being offered free of charge to everyone as a service of OSU Hood River County Extension Central Gorge Master Gardeners. No pre-registration is needed. It will be held at Hood River Valley Christian Church on the evening of March 6. Arrive by 5:50 p.m. as class begins promptly at 6:00 p.m.
Bridge Design & Construction Lead Selected
The Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority board of commissioners has selected Kiewit Infrastructure West to lead the design and construction of a new bridge. Kiewit scored the highest of the three firms that responded to the October request for proposals for a design-build firm. Contract negotiations are underway, and are expected to be finished in April. The Bridge Authority has approved a maximum price of $8 million for the first phase of the design portion of the project. After the contract is finalized, the company will start designing the bridge with input from the Bridge Aesthetics Committee, which will inform the bridge’s look and feel. Public input on aesthetics considerations at two open house events slated for April and July. Bridge construction is targeted to start in late 2025.
Sea Lion Predation Funding In Washington Senate Budget Bill
A $1.5 million appropriation to combat sea lion predation on the lower Columbia River and its tributaries was approved by the Washington State Senate as it passed a $71.6 billion operating budget bill. Predation of salmon by sea lions has doubled since 2006. Last spring, sea lions were spotted further up the Cowlitz River than ever before, gobbling salmon and smolt upriver 70 miles to the base of the barrier dam. Longview State Senator Jeff Wilson says the region loses 12 percent of its salmon to predation. Both chambers must negotiate and pass budget bills before the scheduled conclusion of the 60-day session on March 7.
Hood River County Reads Book Selected
The Hood River County Reads program has selected the book Beloved Beasts: Fighting for Life in an Age of Extinction by White Salmon author Michelle Nijhuis as its focus for 2024. Hood River County Reads encourages readers of all ages to read and discuss books. The book tells the story of the movement to protect and conserve forms of life from early battles to save charismatic species such as the American bison and bald eagle to today’s global effort to defend life on a larger scale. Nijhuis is a journalist who writes about conservation and climate change for several publications including The National Geographic, The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic. Free copies of the book will be available at the official kickoffs this Saturday at from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cascade Locks and Parkdale libraries and at 2 p.m. at the Hood River Library. Various Hood River County Reads events are scheduled throughout March and early April.