Memorial Day observances are planned throughout the area on Monday. In Wasco, it starts with a country breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Wasco School Events Center, a Memorial Service at 10 a.m. at the train depot, a parade at 11 a.m., plus a car show, aritisan market, and more. Full details are available at the Wasco Memorial Day Facebook page. Hood River’s Memorial Day Ceremony is presented by American Legion Post 22 starting at 11 a.m. at Idlewilde Cemetery. Guest speaker is former Hood River City Manager and prisoner of war Ret. Col. Lynn Guenther. In The Dalles…American Legion Post 19, Point Man Ministries, Patriot Guard, and Scouting America Pack 398 host a ceremony at noon at the Viewpoint across from Sorosis Park. The speaker will be Steve Lawrence. White Salmon American Legion Post 87 and Carson American Legion Post 137 Veterans’ Memorial Ceremony will be at 1 p.m. at the White Salmon Cemetery. Approximately one dozen deceased Veterans’ will be inducted into the “Walk of Honor” with a personalized bronze plaque installed on the walk.
The Dalles Dam Visitor Center Schedule Reduced
The Portland District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced The Dalles Dam Visitor Center will be open on a reduced schedule this summer. The Corps says the Visitor Center will be open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. The Corps says it is experiencing what it called “resource constraints” to provide recreational activities to the public this year. It adds in a statement that schedule and adjustments allow them to prioritize quality of service while managing the sites effectively. The Corps is also actively recruiting volunteers to support operations at sites like The Dalles Dam Visitor Center, and will adjust access as those staffing levels allow. To volunteer, visit https://www.volunteer.gov/s/ and type in “Corps of Engineers Oregon” into the search function/bar.
Big River CLT Starts Construction On First House
Big River Community Land Trust has begun construction on its first house: a 13-hundred square foot home on just under at tenth-of-an-acre it acquired from the City of Hood River located near Windmaster Corner. The land trust is looking to help provide more affordable and middle housing by maintaining ownership of the land while the occupant purchases the house itself. Trust executive director Alysha Sherburne says they are starting to receiving inquiries about the home, and she hopes to open up applications to the general public in the next six weeks. Big River CLT has purchased from Faith Bible Church two-point-seven acres on Hood River’s Heights off Belmont and Avalon. Sherburne says they are working with a consultant to determine how many homes can feasibly be placed on that land.
Rock Snake At Sorosis Park
The Dalles Art Center, in collaboration with the Northern Wasco County Parks and Recreation District, has launched of the Rock Snake, a whimsical, interactive public art installation designed to bring color, creativity, and community connection to Sorosis Park. The project officially kicked off last Saturday with a special rock painting event led by Art Center Board Vice President Ami Beaver. Community members of all ages joined in to paint and add their first rocks to the growing Rock Snake. Throughout the summer, residents and visitors alike are invited to continue contributing to the Rock Snake by painting and placing their own uniquely designed rocks along its winding form in the park. Reminiscent of the beloved dragon features once located at Sorosis, the Rock Snake is designed to be a joyful, evolving piece of public art that invites imagination and playfulness for all who encounter it.
WAGAP Partners In Weatherization Program
Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) has connected with the Weatherization Assistance Program through the Northwest Community Action Center, a division of the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, to provide home weatherization services to Klickitat and Skamania counties. The Washington State Department of Commerce approved the partnership. Clients of WAGAP who already qualify for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program automatically qualify for this program. Additionally, homeowners or renters in Washington who make up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level or 60 percent of the state median income also qualify. WAGAP would connect them with the NCAC to have a certified professional conduct an audit of the home and outline updates that would help reduce energy bills. They will then analyze the findings to pinpoint the most effective upgrades for the home. There are no guarantees are made that a home will be eligible for specific upgrades. To apply, eligible homeowners and renters in Klickitat and Skamania counties should contact the WAGAP Energy Assistance program at (800) 755-1192.
May 21 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Hood River Valley 4, Centennial 0: Addison Postlewait pitched a three-hit shutout, striking out 10. Bodie Stuben drove in a pair of runs for the Eagles.
The Dalles 6, Horizon Christian (Tualatin) 5: Hunter Bustos singled home Trey Hodges with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Riverhawks the win. Finley Corbin went two for four with four runs batted in.
Softball
Hood River Valley 21, Centennial 3: The Eagles scored nine runs in both the second and third innings. Kenadie Lucas, Bella Belcher, and Sarah Mason drove in three runs apiece. The win officially clinched a state playoff berth for HRV.
Track and Field
Francisco Solberg won the boys’ pole vault to highlight Hood River Valley’s first day at the Northwest Oregon Conference Championships in Canby. Solberg cleared 12’ 6 ¾”. Logan King was second in the boys’ 3,000 meters and
Syl Perrin second in the girls’ 3,000 meters. The meet continues on Friday.
The Dalles’ Derek Goulart won the boys’ high jump at the Tri-Valley Conference Championships in Prineville with a jump of 6’ 3 ¼”. The Riverhawks received second place finishes from Aiden Ericksen in the boys’ 3,000 meters, Alana Casady in the girls’ 3,000 meters, and Laci Hoylman in the girls’ javelin. The meet concludes Thursday.
Wasco County Commission Starts Burn & Fireworks Ban On June 2
The Oregon Department of Forestry, Wasco County Commissioners, and county fire districts are issuing a debris burn ban that will go into effect on Monday, June 2. The timing of this debris burn ban coincides with ODF’s Central Oregon District declaring fire season, which will also occur on that day. This debris burn ban restricts the use of fire to dispose of backyard woody material through general property clean up, or from slash created from forestry work, and includes slash piles and burn barrels. Wasco County Commissioner Scott Hege noted if property owners have work like this to, now is the time to do it. In conjunction with approving the burn ban, Wasco County Commissioners also approved a personal use fireworks ban beginning on June 2 as well. Fire officials say conditions are drier than normal for this time of year. Human activities are the number one cause of wildfire starts in Oregon
WS Schools Facilities Committee Wraps Up Recommendation
The White Salmon Valley School District’s Facilities Advisory Committee wrapped up its monthly meeting schedule this week, finalizing its recommendation for the district to develop a K-12 campus at the current middle and high school location. The district is dealing with a combination of declining enrollment and an aging Whitson Elementary School in need of replacement. Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says the next step is to present the recommendation to the board and spark a public discussion about the proposal. Polkinghorn says at this point they don’t have a cost estimate for what is being considered. He once again pointed out the K-12 campus site would make the eligible to receive financial help for construction from the state of Washington than if they simply tried to build or remodel one school.
Pitchfest Set For May 29
Gorge Pitchfest 2025 will be held on Thursday, May 29, at the Granada Theatre in The Dalles. The Mid-Columbia Economic Development District’s Mid-Columbia Innovation Hub puts on the event, now in its third year. MCEDD’s Jakob Lillvik says five finalists have been selected from about 30 applicants to pitch their startup business growth plans to a panel of investors and business leaders, competing for $21,000 in awards. Admission to PitchFest is free. It begins at 5:30 p.m. May 29 at the Granada Theatre. For more information and to RSVP go to mcedd.org.
More Chinook Fishing Days
With upriver spring Chinook return on track to come in higher than originally forecast, fishery managers from Oregon and Washington added more recreational spring Chinook fishing days on the mainstem Columbia during a joint state hearing. The expected upriver-origin adult spring Chinook return has been increased from 122,500 fish to 155,500. As of Sunday, a total of 102,025 adult spring Chinook have passed Bonneville Dam, which is greater than the recent 10- and 5-year averages. Anglers downstream of Bonneville Dam had their season extended through June 12, while upriver anglers will see an additional 25 spring Chinook fishing days, with retention open from Thursday to June 15 between Bonneville Dam and the Oregon-Washington state line upstream of McNary Dam. The daily adult bag limit is two adult hatchery Chinook or steelhead per day, but only one may be a Chinook.