Hood River County Commissioners have approved moving forward with an agreement with The Carbon Trust to set up sale of carbon credits for the County Forest. Commissioners voted unanimously to ask staff to draw up the paperwork to move forward. The move will commit the County to continue with a conservative management of its forestlands that it has almost always practiced for the next 40 years, with The Carbon Trust marketing credits that are estimated to bring in over $23 million in the next seven years. Commissioner Les Perkins noted the County has looked for this kind of opportunity for a long time, and the revenue can help them acquire more forestlands, a long-standing goal of the Commission. Proceeds can only be used for purchasing additional forestlands or uses related to their maintenance. It will probably two years before credits actually go on sale, as County Forester Doug Thiesies said it would probably take a full summer season to do the forest inventory to prepare for it.
Port of HR Looks To Complete Funding Package For Lot 1 Infrastructure
With a federal grant in hand to pay for part of the project, the Port of Hood River is now trying to determine how it will source the remaining monies needed to fully fund extending utilities onto Lot 1 along the Nichols Basin plus extending East Anchor Way. The Port recently received a $2 million grant from the Economic Development Administration, which covers about half of the cost of the project. Port Executive Director Kevin Greenwood says Oregon Department of Transportation’s Connect Oregon funds are one possible source. Greenwood says ODOT also has an Immediate Opportunity Fund that could provide part of the necessary monies for the project.
HR Police Arrest Three After Traffic Stops
Hood River Police arrested three people on Friday following two vehicle stops. Police officials say in the first stop the driver exhibited several signs of impairment, and after being taken into custody on a DUII-Controlled Substance charge acknowledged using methamphetamine. While conducting that investigation, an officer observed a driver whose driving privileges were known to be suspended. When that vehicle was stopped the driver was found to be impaired, arrested on a DUII charge, and admitted to fentanyl use. During that interaction, the owner of the vehicle was taken into custody after the discovery of a loaded and concealed firearm, over 58 grams of methamphetamine, two digital scales, and several dozen plastic packaging bindles. That person was facing numerous charges, including being a felon in possession of a firearm.
“Evening Of Light” Tuesday
HAVEN and the Domestic Violence Council of Wasco County will host “An Evening of Light” on Tuesday evening at 5:30 at the Sorosis Park Pavilion in The Dalles. HAVEN Executive Director Marcee Manning says the candlelight vigil honors the survivors of domestic violence. The program will also include presentation of the group’s Passion Award for a person in the community that has gone above and beyond in helping survivors of domestic violence, and the reading of selected poems. Members of the Domestic Violence Council and HAVEN will also speak.
Non-Profit Leadership Training Offered
The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce is offering a free community non-profit board and leadership training this Thursday at Columbia Gorge Community College. Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson says they are using grant money from Google to put on the training. Farquharson says it is open to anyone who is involved, or thinking about being involved, in a non-profit organization. The training will be conducted by Allison Hart, who Farquharson says has a lengthy background in this field. The session will be from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the CGCC Theatre Room, and to register go to thedalleschamber.com.
October 13-14 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Football
Canby 40, Hood River Valley 6
Castle Rock 21, Columbia 6
Onalaska 60, Stevenson 0
Sherman 38, Pilot Rock 0
South Wasco 46, Prairie City 38
Goldendale 49, White Swan 0
Boys Soccer
Trout Lake 1, Southwest Christian 1
Girls Soccer
LaCenter 2, Stevenson 0
Volleyball
Stanfield def. South Wasco 17-25, 25-23, 28-26, 25-18
The Dalles lost to North Bend at the Marshfield Tournament
Dufur def. Condon 25-15, 25-19, 25-13
Condon def. Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 3-0
Sherman def. Trout Lake-Klickitat-Glenwood 25-18, 25-7, 25-19
Spray def. Trout Lake-Klickitat-Glenwood 25-19, 25-18, 19-25, 25-21
South Wasco def. Spray 25-10, 25-14, 25-10
South Wasco def. Sherman 25-16, 25-12, 18-25, 25-15: South Wasco finishes an unbeaten Big Sky Conference regular season.
October 12 Prep Sports Roundup
Football
Dufur 26, Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 8: The Rangers win for the first time this season.
Volleyball
The Dalles def. Gladstone 25-20, 25-16, 25-12: The Riverhawks solidify their hold on third place in the Tri-Valley Conference.
Castle Rock def. Columbia 3-0
LaCenter def. Stevenson 25-14, 24-26, 25-13, 25-22
South Wasco def, Horizon Christian 25-11, 25-12, 25-9: The Redsides run their Big Sky Conference record to a perfect 10-0.
Dufur def. Trout Lake-Klickitat-Glenwood at Dufur 25-11, 25-14, 25-17
Goldendale def. Granger 25-19, 25-14, 25-21: Goldendale has won 39 straight EWAC West matches.
Boys Soccer
The Dalles 5, Estacada 1: The Riverhawks stay a point back of Madras atop the Tri-Valley Conference standings heading into their game Monday in Madras.
Damascus Christian 8, Horizon Christian 0
Girls Soccer
The Dalles 6, Estacada 0: The Riverhawks remain tied with Gladstone for first in the Tri-Valley Conference.
Columbia 5, King’s Way Christian 4
Fort Vancouver 2, Stevenson 0
Trout Lake-Glenwood 2, Westside Christian 2
Goldendale 2, Warden 0
Klickitat County Dispatchers Help In Roadside Baby Delivery
A pair of Klickitat County Emergency Communications Officers helped a woman deliver a baby a couple of weeks ago. The County’s Emergency Management Department says they received a call on their non-emergency line at 3:39 the morning of September 26 from a woman who said she was having a baby on Centerville Highway at Lyle. Communications Officer Pam Schilling, who is a certified Emergency Medical Dispatcher, began gathering information when she was told the mom’s water broke, and delivery was going to be on the side of the road. While fellow Communications Officer Shellie Whitner immediately paged out High Prairie Fire Department EMS volunteers and an ambulance, Schilling focused her attention on mom and baby, who was born at 3:45 in the morning, six minutes after the call arrived. Department Chief of Operations Filiberto Ontiveros said the dispatch center has had several near baby deliveries over the years, and it is something they train for, adding Schilling and Whitner have joined the elite 9-1-1 Stork Club.
Mt Hood Forest Plans Slash Pile Burns
Mt. Hood National Forest fire personnel plan to begin burning piles of slash, and if weather and moisture levels remain favorable, those operations could begin as early as Monday and continue through the next several weeks. Woody debris, also known as slash, is created from post-fire restoration, fuels management, and vegetation projects. The slash is placed in piles and left to cure before burning during the wet season to reduce the fire footprint. Allowing time for the vegetative material to dry out will produce less overall smoke as the piles burn hot and clean. Fire personnel consider many factors before burning, including temperature, moisture levels, wind speed and direction, and relative humidity. Forest officials say before implementing a burn, weather is assessed, a test fire is lit, and its behavior is monitored to determine whether conditions are safe to continue and will meet burn objectives.
WAGAP Plans Energy Assistance Events For Seniors
kamania and Klickitat County seniors can apply to receive assistance to pay their energy bills through local events held in an ongoing partnership with Washington Gorge Action Programs, local PUDs, and the Skamania and Klickitat County Senior Services. WAGAP staff will hold in-person events to help seniors apply for assistance with energy, water, and weatherization needs. Senior Services staff will also help seniors with PUD and water discounts at the same time. Dates, times, and locations for energy assistance support for seniors include October 26 and November 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Klickitat PUD in Goldendale…November 6 and November 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Skamania County Senior Services in Stevenson…November 13 and November 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Pioneer Center in White Salmon… and November 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Lyle Lions’ Community Center All other residents in need of assistance in Skamania and Klickitat Counties are able to request an appointment to apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program through WAGAP Energy Assistance phone lines. To put your name on the waiting list for appointments, call (509) 493-2662 extension 202 or toll-free (800) 755-1192 extension 202. For residents in the Wishram/Goldendale area, call (509) 773-6834 extension 369 or toll-free (800) 755-1192 extension 369.