The Port of Hood River’s engineering team is troubleshooting the Hood River –White Salmon Interstate Bridge lift failure that occurred this past December. A series of 15-minute lifts took place Wednesday. Thursday a full 30-minute lift will take place at 5 a.m. and another full lift will take place between 11 a.m. and noon. Additional lifts may be necessary or adjustments to the schedule required while the engineering team is in Hood River. During those lift operations, the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge will be closed to all vehicle traffic.
February 6 Prep Basketball Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
Hood River Valley 65, Milwaukie 59: Sawyer Clemett scored 19 of his 30 points in the second half as the Eagles held off a late rally by the Mustangs for the Northwest Oregon Conference victory.
Trout Lake 55, South Wasco 34
Horizon Christian 63, Lyle-Wishram 51
Dufur 64, Klickitat-Glenwood 43
Washington District 5 Class B Boys Basketball Play-In Game
River View 54, Goldendale 53
Girls Basketball
Hood River Valley 48, Milwaukie 32: The Eagles jumped out to a 23-3 lead in the first quarter and cruised to the win. Marina Castaneda scored 20 points to lead HRV.
South Wasco 46, Trout Lake 42
Horizon Christian 37, Lyle-Wishram 32
Sherman 49, Bickleton 22
YouthThink Gets Report On Sessions With Students
YouthThink has received a report from recent listening sessions the organization held with middle and high school students in Wasco County. YouthThink Executive Director Debby Jones says they are still evaluating the input, but community safety was something that came up during the conversations, including safety at the skate park and dealing with homeless in the downtown area. Other topics that came up included the amount of time spent looking at screens, and a lack of recreational options for high schoolers in the area.
Photo Exhibit Starts Bingen’s Centennial
An exhibit of historic photos will kickoff Bingen’s celebration of its 100th anniversary. The Gorge Heritage Museum is celebrating the centennial with a photographic exhibit this month at the White Salmon Valley Community Library’s Sprint Baker Gallery called “50 Photos and 100 Years of Bingen on the Columbia.” Bingen Mayor Catherine Kiewit says the similarities of the town from 1924 to today can be seen in the photos. An opening reception for the exhibit is planned for Friday at 2 p.m. at the White Salmon Valley Community Library Sprint Baker Gallery. Kiewit says there will be a number of centennial events throughout the year.
February 5 Prep Sports Roundup
Trico League Girls Basketball 4th Place Tiebreaker
LaCenter 40, Stevenson 32
Girls Basketball
Sherman 46, Lyle-Wishram 13
Boys Basketbalall
Sherman 75, Lyle-Wishram 41
Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 78, Klickitat-Glenwood 49
Songer Says 2022 Death Of Woman An Accidental Drowning
The Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office says it appears the death of a Portland woman whose body was found in October 2022 in Trout Lake Creek was an accidental drowning. In a statement issued on Monday, Sheriff Bob Songer said an extensive investigation into the death of 31-year-old Hannah Walker was conducted based on available information and evidence involving Klickitat County sheriff detectives and the prosecutor’s office, the Clark County medical examiner’s office, the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab, and state attorney general’s cold case investigators. Songer noted the investigation was conducted based on the belief of Walker’s mother that her daughter’s death was a homicide. Songer said that while foul play cannot be ruled out completely, there is no evidence or probable cause to believe a crime was committed.
Hood-Sandy-Deschutes Basin Snowpack At 75% Of Normal
As we enter into February, snowpack in the Hood-Sandy-Deschutes Basin is down to 75 percent of historical levels. Natural Resources Conservation Service Oregon Snow Survey Hydrologist Matt Warbritton says the basin was at normal levels in January, but warmer temperatures led to snow melt and a reduction in the snowpack. Warbritton does note there is time for the snowpack to build up, with the peak historically between the end of March and mid-April. Thatt will tie into the water supply forecast NRCS will produce, providing a more accurate look at the summer water picture.
Work Continues On Highway 30 Rockfall
Oregon Department of Transportation crews continue to work on stabilizing the slope face at the site of a rockfall last week on Highway 30, or the Biggs-Rufus Frontage Road, just east of Biggs Junction. ODOT District 9 Manager Dan Shanahan says scalers spent most of last week bringing down more rock in danger of falling. He says once they can get the slope stabilize, they can remove the rock covering the road and reopen it to the public. There is no estimated time for the highway to reopen. Until then, ODOT officials say motorists should continue to use alternate routes.
Tygh Valley Chiropractor Indicted By Grand Jury On Sex Abuse Charges
A Wasco County grand jury indicted a Tygh Valley chiropractor on two counts of Sex Abuse in the First Degree. Wasco County District Attorney Matthew Ellis announced the charges against 40-year-old Andrew Houck, who lives and works in Tygh Valley. Ellis says the victims were middle school aged girls when seeing Houck, in his capacity as a chiropractor. The incidents occurred roughly a year apart. Houck, who has no prior criminal history, is scheduled for his initial appearance on these charges at the Wasco County Courthouse on February 12th at 8:30 a.m. Ellis says if the public has information about other possible victims to contact Det. Jonah Moore at the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office at 541-506-2580.
MCFR Responds To Friday Morning Fire
An early morning fire on Friday damaged a structure on East 7th in The Dalles. Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue says at about 3:30 Friday morning its crews, along with The Dalles Police and Wasco County Sheriff’s Office, found smoke and fire were visible, prompting a call for more resources. Dallesport and Mosier fire crews responded to assist. The incident lasted for about two hours, and MCFR says the fire is currently under investigation.