Washington Gorge Action Programs have received a $250,000 grant to remove barriers so people can participate in civics and engage with their local governments. The money is from The Inatai Foundation. WAGAP Executive Director Leslie Naramore says it is a civic engagement grant, and they are choosing to use it to lessen barriers that prevent people from being involved, such as by providing day care or gas vouchers to help people attend meetings. Education on how to participate in the civic process and creating opportunities for people to register to vote. Naramore also says the funding will not be used to support any political party.
WS Schools Survey Staff & Families To Start Planning Process
The White Salmon Valley School District has surveying its staff and student families as it takes steps to develop a new strategic plan. Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says they made the survey general in nature. He noted many of the responses have raised the issue of available resources after the district had to make budget cuts to deal with a large fiscal shortfall, but Polkinghorn says now they can begin to move forward, calling the budget picture stable. Polkinghorn says the intent is to have strategic plan developed by the middle of this year.
WAGAP Readies Warming Shelter In Stevenson
Washington Gorge Action Programs says preparations to operate its Skamania County Emergency Warming Shelter in Stevenson are in progress. An opening date has not yet been announced, but when it opens, it is expected to be available through mid-March. The shelter is located near the Hegewald Center. It will be open Thursday through Monday evenings with check in between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. each night. It will be available to adults, children accompanied by their parents/guardians, and emancipated minors. Unaccompanied minors will be referred to the Youth Empowerment Shelter in The Dalles. WAGAP also says regional houselessness partner Father’s House Fellowship, located in Goldendale, will be reopening its emergency shelter beginning January 15. The shelter will not act as a drop-in warming center but will have two rooms available for emergency situations.
December 19 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
The Dalles 67, North Bend 28
Gladstone 56, Hood River Valley 54
Trout Lake 46, Irrigon 37
Dufur 58, Heppner 48
Central Christian 67, Lyle-Wishram 65
Jordan Valley 54, South Wasco 50
North Clackamas Christian 41, Horizon Christian 38
Klickitat-Glenwood 55, Thorp 43
Girls Basketball
Cedar City (UT) 55, Hood River Valley 35
North Bend 51, The Dalles 40
Trout Lake 46, Irrigon 13
Heppner 60, Dufur 19
Central Christian 48, Lyle-Wishram 20
Jordan Valley 50, South Wasco 35
North Clackamas Christian 60, Horizon Christian 14
HR Schools Look To Increase Attendance Rates
The Hood River County School District is looking to increase attendance rates. Last year, 65 percent of district students attend school at least 90 percent of the time, and in October and November of this year that was up to 76 percent. Interim Superintendent Bill Newton says they are putting in plenty of work to increase that rate to 90 percent, which is where the district was before the pandemic. He adds much of this is about breaking habits. Newton says the district sees better attendance at the elementary level than at the secondary level. He adds the district’s schools are emphasizing building relationships with families to encourage consistent school attendance.
White Salmon Survey Uses Visuals To Get Opinions On Housing Options
The City of White Salmon is conducting a visual preference survey as they work on housing code changes in an effort to create more affordable options. Mayor Marla Keethler says the survey is based on a “Quality In My Backyard” or “QUIMBY” approach, breaking away from technical code language to a more visual approach. Keethler says the survey is intended to help inform housing code decisions that will be made in the upcoming year. The survey is available at whitesalmonwa.gov.
HR County Gets Update On Bridge Of The Gods Funding Efforts
The Hood River County Commission on Monday heard an update on the renewed efforts to get funding to do design and engineering work for the Bridge of the Gods at Cascade Locks. The Port of Cascade Locks is seeking $6 million apiece from the states of Oregon and Washington. It had appeared during the 2023 Oregon legislative session the bridge would receive those funds, but if fell out at the last minute. Port lobbyist Dan Mahr told the Commission they are confident they can receive the money this year. Mahr adds the goal is to retrofit the Bridge of the Gods to withstand a seismic event along with extending its useful life. County Commissioners agreed to submit a letter to the Oregon Legislature supporting the funding effort.
Bridge Authority Expects To Learn About Federal Funding Early In 2024
The Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority expects to receive word sometime in January on its efforts to acquire $200 million in federal funding for construction of a new bridge. Bridge Authority and Klickitat County Commissioner Jacob Anderson says they have applications in for two different sources to receive the money. Once the federal funding is secured, it is expected that the states of Washington and Oregon will commit to the remainder of their shares to allow the project to move forward.
TD Chamber Taking Nominations For Awards
The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce is taking nominations for its annual Distinguished Service Awards. Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson says they are taking nominations until January 4 for awards in a number of categories. Online nomination forms are available at thedalleschamber.com. The awards banquet will be on January 18 at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center, and tickets are available at thedalleschamber.com.
December 18 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
Hood River Valley 64, Molalla 52: The Eagles never trailed in running their record to 4-1. Sawyer Clemett scored 16 points and Matthew Fauth 12 to lead HRV.
Stevenson 49, Gladstone 42
Hockinson 70, Columbia 51
South Wasco 68, Dayville-Monument 36
Girls Basketball
Hood River Valley 51, Sierra Vista (NV) 50: Julia Rowan scored 15 of her 24 points in the third quarter as the Eagles won their sixth straight game to start the season.
South Wasco 55, Dayville-Monument 34