A $1.5 million appropriation to combat sea lion predation on the lower Columbia River and its tributaries was approved by the Washington State Senate as it passed a $71.6 billion operating budget bill. Predation of salmon by sea lions has doubled since 2006. Last spring, sea lions were spotted further up the Cowlitz River than ever before, gobbling salmon and smolt upriver 70 miles to the base of the barrier dam. Longview State Senator Jeff Wilson says the region loses 12 percent of its salmon to predation. Both chambers must negotiate and pass budget bills before the scheduled conclusion of the 60-day session on March 7.
Hood River County Reads Book Selected
The Hood River County Reads program has selected the book Beloved Beasts: Fighting for Life in an Age of Extinction by White Salmon author Michelle Nijhuis as its focus for 2024. Hood River County Reads encourages readers of all ages to read and discuss books. The book tells the story of the movement to protect and conserve forms of life from early battles to save charismatic species such as the American bison and bald eagle to today’s global effort to defend life on a larger scale. Nijhuis is a journalist who writes about conservation and climate change for several publications including The National Geographic, The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic. Free copies of the book will be available at the official kickoffs this Saturday at from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cascade Locks and Parkdale libraries and at 2 p.m. at the Hood River Library. Various Hood River County Reads events are scheduled throughout March and early April.
February 23-24 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Oregon State Wrestling Championships at Portland Memorial Coliseum.
The Dalles’ Alexander DelaTorre finished fifth at 157 pounds in Class 4A, winning four of six matches, including defeating Connor Glasser of Estacada by fall at 1:30 in the fifth place match. Hood River Valley’s Connor Farlow was sixth in the 120 pound division in Class 5A, splitting six matches.
Oregon Class 4A Boys Basketball Play-In
North Marion 85, The Dalles 68
Oregon Class 4A Girls Basketball Play-In
Stayton 40, The Dalles 27
Oregon Class 1A Boys Basketball Second Round
Crosshill Christian 87, Dufur 83 (OT): Ben Hemelstrand scored 32 points and Kyler Hemelstrand 27 for Crosshill. Cody Phillips led the Rangers with 27 points and JJ Johnston and Jacob Kent tallied 20 apiece.
North Douglas 69, Sherman 60: Hunter Vaughn had 28 points, eight steals and five rebounds for the victors.
Oregon Class 1A Girls Basketball Second Round
Crane 69, Trout Lake 24: Kaitlyn Siegner scored 25 points for top-seeded Crane.
Boys Basketball
Hood River Valley 65, Hillsboro 48
Girls Basketball
Hillsboro 43, Hood River Valley 35
Mt. Hood League Skiing
Rowan Shuman of Trout Lake won a men’s giant slalom at Mt. Hood Meadows, with Hood River Valley’s Lars Welch finishing second and Henry Perez of The Dalles fourth. Emily Teets of HRV won the women’s giant slalom, with teammate Zoe Mortensen taking fourth.
February 22 Prep Sports Roundup
Oregon Class 4A Boys Wrestling Championships at Portland Memorial Coliseum
157
First Round: Alexander DelaTorre, The Dalles def. #7 Conner Glasser, Estacada by fall at 1:03.
Quarterfinal: DelaTorre loses to #2 Luke Rosa, Sweet Home, by fall at 3:17
Consolation: DelaTorre def. Turner Jackson, Estacada, by technical fall at 3:12
Consolation: DelaTorre def. Brody Van Gastel, Mazama, by fall at 2:19
165
First Round: Alfred Brackenbury, The Dalles loses to #6 Estefan Muneton, Henley, 12-4
Consolation: Brackenbury loses to Clayton Dewitt, Cottage Grove by fall at :30
Granum To Be New NSA Deputy Forest Supervisor
Nicolas Granum will be joining the US Forest Service Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area as its new Deputy Forest Supervisor. Granum will start on the job Monday, assisting Forest Supervisor Donna Mickley in managing the 83,000-acres of National Forest System lands within the National Scenic Area. Granum comes to the Scenic Area from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, where he was a Section Chief with Public Assistance Regional Operations in the Seattle area. During his time at FEMA, he worked with various Federal response and recovery programs for disasters from Alaska to the Caribbean. Most recently he has been supporting joint state and FEMA preliminary damage assessments as the region begins recovery efforts from last month’s ice storm. Granum has a master’s degree in public administration and a BS in Geography from Portland State University, and served in the United States Peace Corps in South Africa. He also managed a unique program for socially complex adults facing homelessness in Portland, and spent just over 10 years as a volunteer firefighter and EMT.
Cultural Trust Announces Grant Recipients
The Wasco County Cultural Trust Coalition announced the recipients of its 2024 Cultural grants. This year’s grant recipients and activities include the NORCOR Juvenile Facility for “Cultural Connections with Youth in Custody”; The Dalles – Wasco County Public Library for a “Mysterious Escape Room – Historic The Dalles Edition”; The Makerspace 97058 for a public launch and fundraising events; Southern Wasco County Library for “Live History Interactive Theatre”; The Dalles Overground for “Sound Series: Balsamroot Edition”, an event featuring Native poets, writers, and musicians; the South Wasco County School District Theatre Program for its 2024 Spring Show “Game of Tiaras” which will incorporate community volunteers and actors; and The Dalles Art Center for its “School of Fish Community Art Project” which will provide take home art kits to then create an installation of a school of fish. Funds for the annual grants are provided by the Oregon Cultural Trust. There will be a public reception on Friday, March 1st at 6 pm at The Dalles Art Center.
Initial Spring Chinook Seasons Set
Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington adopted initial recreational spring Chinook seasons on the Columbia River during a joint state hearing Wednesday. The season will run from March 1 to April 5 downstream of Bonneville Dam, and from April 1 to May 5 from Bonneville Dam to the Oregon-Washington state line upstream of McNary Dam. Catch rates and fishery performance will be monitored in season. Additional fishing days may be added after an in-season update of the expected upriver spring Chinook run size in mid to late May. Prior to an in-season run size update, the fishery downstream of Bonneville Dam will be managed for a guideline of approximately 3,900 upriver spring Chinook, and the fishery between Bonneville Dam and the Oregon/Washington state line will be managed for a guideline of just under 600 upriver spring Chinook. Forecasts for several 2024 spring Chinook stocks are down from last year’s actual returns and are lower than 10-year average returns.
Wellness Town Hall Monday
The Mid-Columbia Center for Living, Hood River County Health Department, and Oregon Health Authority will host a community town hall focused on wellness this Monday evening. Organizers say the purpose of the event is to offer a space where the community can collectively work toward hope, healing, and emotional wellness. It’s designed for parents, guardians, youth, and other individuals who have a young person in their life who may be grieving. It will provide information on resources on support to help navigate through the challenges of grief and loss. The town hall will be Monday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Best Western Hood River Inn. Spanish interpretation is available, and childcare will be provided. The speaker portion of the event will begin at 6 p.m. and be live-streamed for those individuals who are unable to attend in person. Register to receive the live stream link by visiting Eventbrite.com.
Lions Follies Returns After Five-Year Absence
After a five-year absence, the Mid-Columbia Lions Follies returns to the stage next week. “Let’s Get It Started” will be the theme of this year’s musical and comedy variety show put on by community members to benefit the Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation. The Follies’ Amy Maddy says some of the material comes from the experiences of the last five years. The Lions Follies will perform Friday and Saturday nights on March 1st and 2nd, and the 8th and the 9th, at 7 p.m. at the Hood River Middle School Auditorium, with a matinee on Sunday, March 3 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students 12 and under, and available at Waucoma Bookstore, Key Bank on the Hood River Heights, and online at olshf.org.
February 21 Prep Basketball Scoreboard
Oregon Class 1A Girls Basketball Tournament
First Round
Trout Lake 48, Mohawk 16
Crosshill Christian 39, South Wasco 32
Girls Basketball
Wilsonville 70, Hood River Valley 47
Boys Basketball
Wilsonville 58, Hood River Valley 40