Retiring Hood River County Administrator Jeff Hecksel is in the final days of his career, with his final day of work set for December 1. Hecksel had announced his intention to retire at the start of this year. He has spent the final seven years of a 40-year career in government in his current role. Hecksel notes the biggest challenge of his tenure here was probably dealing with the County’s budget issues just before and at the start of the pandemic, adding teamwork got them through it. Hecksel’s successor, Allison Williams, will take over the County Administrator role on December 4.
SHIBA Offers Medicare Assistance
The Medicare Open Enrollment Period is underway, continuing through December 7. The Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance program is available to help Medicare recipients in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, and Wheeler counties navigate the choices involved. SHIBA counselor Sue Ann Arguelles says it’s easy to get confused as far as what to choose and why. Mid-Columbia Senior Center sponsors the program locally. For more information, call 541-288-8341.
November 10-11 Prep Sports Roundup
Oregon Class 5A Boys Soccer Championship at Sherwood
Summit 1, Hood River Valley 0: Summit’s Luca Garza scored on a scramble following a corner kick in the 14th minute for the game’s only goal. Summit dominated play, outshooting HRV 30-3, but the Eagles’ Emmanuel Galindo kept his team in the contest to the end with 13 saves. Hood River managed to put only one shot on target during the contest.
Oregon Class 5A Water Polo Championships at Corvallis
Boys Semi-Final
Hood River Valley 9, Summit 7
Boys Championship
West Albany 11, Hood River Valley 8
Girls Semi-Final
Hood River Valley 14, Summit 8
Girls Championship
Hood River Valley 13, West Albany 10
Oregon Six-Man Football
Quarterfinal
Elkton 58, South Wasco 34
Washington Class 2B Football
First Round
Goldendale 67, Brewster 22: The Timberwolves advance to a quarterfinal game with Okanogan next week.
November 10 Prep Sports Roundup
Oregon Class 5A Water Polo Championships at Corvallis
Boys Semi-Final
Hood River Valley 9, Summit 7: The Eagles will play West Albany in the championship game Saturday at 3 p.m.
Girls Semi-Final
Hood River Valley 14, Summit 8: The Eagles will play West Albany in the championship game Saturday at 4:15 p.m.
Oregon Six-Man Football
Quarterfinal
Elkton 58, South Wasco 34
Washington Class 2B Football
First Round
Goldendale 67, Brewster 22: The Timberwolves advance to a quarterfinal game with Okanogan next week.
Veterans Day Parade Will Happen
The 2023 Veterans Day Parade in The Dalles is back on. The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce reversed course Wednesday morning after announcing on Tuesday evening it was being cancelled. The Chamber had cited a low number of parade entries, indicating they had received less than ten for the Saturday event. But in a statement Wednesday morning, the Chamber said it had heard from community members that said the parade should be held no matter the number of entries. Registrations for Saturday’s parade, scheduled for 11 a.m., are being taken at thedalleschamber.com.
WAGAP Seeks Donations For Tree Of Joy
Washington Gorge Action Programs is asking for donations to help meet demand for its Tree of Joy project in Klickitat and Skamania counties. The goal is to help families in need by providing new essential items, such as winter coats, hats, gloves, clothing, and shoes, with other gifts and toys to brighten a child’s holiday season. WAGAP Executive Director Leslie Naramore says a shift to remote work seems to have disconnected workers from holiday activities with their companies that support local communities, leading to a drop in Tree of Joy donations. Individuals and organizations interested in joining this year’s Tree of Joy effort can contact Modesta Espinoza at clerk@wagap.org or call (509) 493-2662 extension 200. Donor shopping lists will be available by November 21 in advance of Thanksgiving. Gifts should be wrapped, clearly indicate family and child numbers, and be returned to the Bingen Food Bank by December 18, in time for the families to pick gifts up starting December 19.
HRPD Addresses May Street School Congestion
The Hood River Police Department says it met with leadership at May Street Elementary in an effort to address safety concerns related to congestion around the school. The police department says it has received complaints about vehicles idling and blocking Pine, 9th, and 10th Streets around the school. In addition, they have received complaints about “aggressive and unsafe drivers.” The department reminds motorists not to double park or idle around school property. Families are encouraged to use alternative transportation options for going to and from school, including walking, riding, or using the school bus. If picking up a student, park in a legal parking space and walk to drop off or pick up children. There should be no parking and stopping in a traffic lane, street, or road. Hood River Police say they will be in the May Street Elementary area to keep traffic moving.
HR Health Department Has High-Flu Dose Vaccines For Seniors
The Hood River County Health Department currently has free high-flu dose vaccines for those over the age of 65, regardless of insurance coverage, while supplies last. The health department’s Daron Ryan says they received a grant through the Hood River Valley Adult Center to cover the cost of the doses. They also have flu shots for ages six months to 64 years old, and COVID-19 vaccine for those over the age of six months without insurance and six months to 64 years old with most insurance. Call 541-386-1115 to verify nurse availability the day you would like to drop in at the health department office on 1109 June in Hood River. They are open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
November 7 OSAA Boys Soccer Semi-Final Roundup
Oregon Class 5A Boys Soccer Semifinal
Hood River Valley 2, Wilsonville 1: Felipe Mendez scored with just under five minutes to play to push the Eagles into the championship game this Saturday. Mendez tallied his second goal of the game from the top of the penalty box on an assist from Edgar Luchino. Mendez had given the Eagles the early lead just four minutes into the contest. Wilsonville tied it in the 13th minute on a volley by Alex Aguiar. HRV will meet Summit, a 2-1 winner over LaSalle, in the 5A title game on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Sherwood High School.
Oregon Class 4A Boys Soccer Semifinal
Cottage Grove 3, The Dalles 1: The Lions won at home in a game that was marred by an altercation with nine minutes to play. According to Mid-Major Media’s X feed, a Lions’ player was being assessed a red card when the altercation occurred. Mid-Major Media said officials allowed play to resume after a lengthy delay, with Cottage Grove playing the final minutes down a man. NFHS Network video showed players coming off the benches, but it was unclear what precipitated the situation.
Election Results as of November 8, 7:20 p.m.
North Wasco County School District 21 Bond Measure
No 3,476 52.6%
Yes 3,138 47.4%
West Klickitat Regional Fire Authority
Yes 866 62.0%
No 530 38.0%
Stevenson City Council Pos. 3
Lucy Lauser 313
Amanda Meyers 52
Write-In 121
Stevenson City Council Pos. 4
Pat Rice 408
Mark Meyers 48
Goldendale Mayor
Dave Jones 529 91.5%
Michael Standley 49 8.5%
Goldendale City Council Pos. 2
Theone Wheeler 377 67.9%
Filberto Ontiveros 176 31.7%
Goldendale City Council Pos. 5
Danielle Clevidence 400 69.8%
Darlene Williamson 173 30.1%
White Salmon Valley School District Pos. 1
Kris Ostness 1,296 83.2%
Andrew Chapman 255 16.4%
White Salmon Valley School District Pos. 2
Matthew Byrne 1,100 68.3%
Mike Hughes 508 31.6%
White Salmon Valley School District Pos. 4
Laurie Stanton 1,196 73.5%
Todd Andrews 430 26.4%
Stevenson-Carson School District Pos. 5
Mitch Engel 967 65.3%
John Lofberg 509 34.6%
Lyle School District Pos. 1
Dan Smith 324 57.9%
John Hadley 233 41.6%
Lyle School District Pos. 4
Marc Harvey 288 50.7%
Kathi Green 275 48.4%
5 write-ins
Trout Lake School District Pos. 1
Kristen Rubesh 208 64.0%
Lacey Doede 117 36.0%
Trout Lake School District Pos. 4
Carmen Leslie 214 65.4%
Jeff Fink 101 30.9%
Glenwood School District Pos. 1
Jacob Eldred 94
Kaci Bartkowski 68
Glenwood School District Pos. 5
Mary Pierce 95
Dustin Jones 68
Mill A School District Pos. 2
Angela Morrill 109
Don Morby 62
Mill A School District Pos. 3
Erik Lundby 126
Joan Graham 45
Mill A School District Pos. 5
Diane Green 118
Kathryn Anne Libke 56
Wishram School District Pos. 4
Betsy Barnhart 34
Jason Cheyne Blodgett 17
Centerville School Board Pos. 1
Eric Olson 83
Shannon Crocker-Ihrig 68
Goldendale School District Pos. 1
Chris Twohy 990 72.9%
Will Samuelsen 362 26.6%
Skamania County Fire District 1 Lid-Lift
Yes 476 57.3%
No 355 42.7%
Skamania County Fire District 5 Lid-Lift
Yes 74
No 48
Home Valley Water District Maintenance and Capital Improvement Levy
Yes 57
No 40