With winter weather in the forecast for the Upper Hood River Valley this week, Hood River County crews are getting ready to clear roads when snow does fall. County Administrator Allison Williams says they are ready to deal with what the weather might bring in the next few days, with a full staff supplied and ready to go. Williams notes that as usual, main roads will be taken care of first, then residential roads, so the County is asking for patience. Lower levels are forecast to see heavy rains along with strong winds on Tuesday, which has emergency crews watching for slide activity. As of Monday afternoon, the National Weather Service has a winter storm watch in effect for the Upper Hood River Valley and the Cascade above the 1,500 foot mark beginning at 4 a.m. Tuesday.
Meadows Postpones FISH Benefit Due To Wind Forecast
With Tuesday’s forecast is calling for very strong to extreme gusty winds in excess of 50 miles per hour, Mt. Hood Meadows says it is postponing its Provide to Ride benefit for FISH Food Bank until January 30. Meadows President and General Manager Greg Pack says the storm has the potential to significantly impact lift operations at Mt. Hood Meadows, if not shut down the resort entirely. Pack adds they don’t want to hold the FISH benefit on a day with limited lift operations. Meadows indicates those who bought the specially-priced $40 lift tickets for Tuesdays’ event, can have the purchase refunded onto the credit card you made it with, which can then be used to purchase tickets for the January 30 event, if you wish. For more information and updates, visit the resort website at SkiHood.com.
Trafficking Awareness Walks Set For Thursday
The Mid-Columbia Human Trafficking Task Force will holding a pair of walks in the region this Thursday to bring attention to the subject. One will be held in The Dalles at noon Thursday, going from HAVEN at 420 East 3rd to The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce, and the other will be in Hood River at 3 p.m., going from Tsuruta Park to the Hood River Library. Presentations will follow at both locations. Twenty-one different agencies, from law enforcement to social service groups, make up the task force in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, and Wheeler counties.
Pesticide Applicator Training Planned For February
Oregon State University Extension, the Hood River County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers will be holding a Spanish-language private pesticide applicator license exam preparation class in early February at the Pine Grove Grange. OSU Extension Horticulturist Ashley Thompson says the class is taught by educators from the Washington State Department of Agriculture, adding it has a track record of success. The classes will take place February 6-9. Cost is $175, and includes 2 1/2 days of instruction along with the Oregon and Washington applicators exams. Space is limited. To sign-up, contact Thompson at OSU Extension at 541-296-5494 or the Hood River County Soil and Water Conservation District 541-386-4588.
Corry Says Republicans Will Stand Firmly Against Tax Increases
Washington state continues to see steady revenue growth, and that’s got Republican legislators standing firmly against any new tax increase proposals in the 2024 legislative session starting this week. 14th District Representative Chris Corry is the Republican budget leader on the House Appropriations Committee. He believes uncertainty is on the horizon and he’s concerned about potential spending as lawmakers get to work on this year’s supplemental budget. Corry does think some moves for additional funding for special education and student support are broadly supported, but they also have a lot of challenges to deal with.
January 5-6 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
The Dalles 67, Willamette 60
Centennial 56, Hood River Valley 43
Columbia 61, Castle Rock 51
Stevenson 44, King’s Way Christian 34
Stevenson 65, Hockinson 62
Dufur 62, South Wasco 47
Dufur 84, Lyle-Wishram 47
Horizon Christian 41, Trout Lake 31
Horizon Christian 58, South Wasco 53
North Clackamas Christian 45, Trout Lake 17
Sherman 48, Condon 41
Lyle-Wishram 82, Klickitat-Glenwood 40
Cle Elum-Roslyn 63, Goldendale 49
White Swan 38, Goldendale 35
Girls Basketball
South Wasco 67, Dufur 39
South Wasco 68, Horizon Christian 17
Trout Lake 70, Horizon Christian 16
North Clackamas Christian 51, Trout Lake 27
Dufur 54, Lyle-Wishram 8
Sherman 43, Condon 28
Cle Elum-Roslyn 53, Goldendale 4
White Swan 45, Goldendale 35
Girls Wrestling
Hood River Valley’s Natalia Solorio Campos won the 190 pound division at the Southridge Invitational. Kyra Mitchell was fourth at 130 pounds.
Boys Wrestling
Amado Velador of The Dalles finished third in the 106 pound division of the Paul/Larson Invitational in Sandy. The Riverhawks’ Creighton Clack and Alexander DeLaTorre earned fourth place finishes.
Kasen Pozel of Stevenson finished fourth at 150 pounds at the Jim Bair Invitational in Castle Rock.
January 4 Prep Sports Roundup
Girls Basketball
Mountain View (WA) 49, Hood River Valley 32: The Thunder got off to a 20-4 start and never looked back. Julia Rowan scored ten points to lead the Eagles.
King’s Way Christian 49, Stevenson 27: The Knights used a dominant first half to roll to the win. Sofia Spencer led the Bulldogs with 13 points.
Castle Rock 45, Columbia 25
Boys Swimming
Canby 99, Hood River Valley 71
Girls Swimming
Canby 102, Hood River Valley 68
OSP Investigates Cutting Of Highway Signs
Oregon State Police are seeking information in the case of a number of highway signs being cut down and discarded in Wasco County. The OSP says on December 21, Oregon State Police responded to a report of multiple road signs that had been cut down and removed in Wasco County. The investigation determined that seven Oregon Department of Transportation road signs had been removed sometime between December 15 and December 20. Signs were removed from Highways 97, 293, and 218 in Wasco County. The signs were discarded on Highway 293 near milepost 3. The estimated repair cost for each sign is approximately $500. The OSP is asking anyone who may have information related to this incident to call dispatch at *677 and reference case number SP23-400394.
MCAREC Growing; New Executive Director Coming
The Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center is in the midst of a growth spurt. There are lab renovations going on at the facility in Hood River, and more staff is coming in. That includes a new executive director, and OSU Extension Horticulturalist Ashley Thompson says Dr. Brian Pearson comes to them from a similar facility in Florida. Pearson brings nearly 20 years of experience in research, teaching, and extension with strong roots in the land-grant system. His investigative focus considers all aspects of diverse specialty crop production to include selection, cultivation, and management for aesthetic, edible, beverage, and medicinal application and use with a specific focus on developing a thorough understanding of how each agricultural production factor, separately and in combination, influence plant growth and development. Pearson is to begin work at the Center later this month.
HR Rotary Ski Night On January 15
Tickets are on sale for the Hood River Rotary Club’s annual ski night at Mount Hood Meadows, set once again for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 15. The event is a key fundraiser for the club’s scholarship efforts. The event will run from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on January 15 at Mt. Hood Meadows. Tickets are available at skihood.com.