Interim White Salmon Valley School District Superintendent Jerry Lewis says they will be passing a budget for the 2023-24 school year in July. Lewis has been working with the Southwest Washington Educational Service District to put the budget together, after the White Salmon district faced a two-point-five million dollar shortfall. Lewis says most of the heavy lifting on the budget is done, but there are still some things to do. Lewis adds they will know in about a week of where that ending fund balance stands and what the budget for next year will look like.
Pavement Projects Set For The Dalles
Next week The Dalles and Wasco County public works crews will begin work on several pavement preservation projects. These chip seal projects will require short duration road closures between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at each location on the date the work is scheduled to take place. Detours will be in place during work hours. Proceed with caution in the work areas during construction times and observe all temporary traffic control devices. A full list of the projects planned for next week and a 2023 The Dalles Pavement Preservation Program map can be viewed at thedalles.org. If you have questions, contact The Dalles Public Works Department at 541-296-5401. This road work is expected to extend the service life of the pavement structures.
TD Beautification Committee Offers Tree Grants
The City of The Dalles Beautfication Committee is offering a residential tree grant program. The purpose of the program is to provide grants to The Dalles residents to beautify and improve their property with trees. The funds are available to those within the city limits of The Dalles. Application forms are available at thedalles.org. Applicants must select their preferred tree species from an approved list as part of the application process. The trees will be about an inch to an inch-and-a-half in diameter, and stand five to six feet tall. All trees offered in the program have been selected because they are hardy in this region, they are resistant to pests, and the roots are less likely than other species to cause problems for sidewalks and other infrastructure.
Overnight HR Bridge Closures Start Tuesday
The Hood River-White Salmon Interstate bridge will be closed to all traffic Sundays through Thursdays from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., and on Fridays from 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. beginning tomorrow through July 7. During the closures, crews will perform repairs to the steel truss members of the bridge, including connection repairs, floorbeam knee brace repairs, rocker bearing modifications, debris removal, joint header repair, and sealing concrete cracks. Port of Hood River Executive Director Kevin Greenwood acknowledged the closure inconveniences a number of people, but he adds there is no ideal time to get the work done, and it needs to be done in good weather. On the 4th of July, the closure will end at 5:00 a.m. and will not resume until July 5 at 9:00 p.m.
The Dalles 4th Of July Parade Seeks Youth Who Went To State
The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce is taking applications for entries for the July 4 Hometown USA parade. Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson says they are asking for all youth teams from The Dalles who have made it to state this year to be at the front of the parade to act as grand marshals. Representatives of those teams should call the Chamber at 541-296-2231. Parade applications are being taken until June 27, go to thedalleschamber.com.
D21 To Send $140 Million Bond Measure For New High School To Voters
The North Wasco County School District 21 board has voted to send a $140 million bond measure to build a new high school on the current Wahtonka campus site to the November ballot. Under the measure, the property tax assessment would be $3.12 per thousand dollars of assessed value. Board members received from an advisory committee and a consulting firm three different proposals, ranging from $120 million to $140 million. The larger package that was approved includes renovating the current high school for use to centralize some services along with expanded childcare services and community programs. The bond would also pay for demolition of the existing Wahtonka campus to create space for athletic fields. The district’s consulting firm actually recommended the $120 million package, but board members felt with other capital needs looming for the district, they needed to seek the larger bond measure to accomplish their goals for the high school. The measure will be on the November 7 ballot.
Man Dies In Highway 197 Accident
A Tygh Valley man died in a motor vehicle accident Thursday afternoon in south Wasco County. According to the Oregon State Police, a car was traveling northbound on Highway 197 near milepost 44 when it began to turn into a driveway, and was a struck from behind for an unknown reason by a vehicle operated by 26-year-old Devan Lee Nelson. The OSP says Nelson was declared deceased at the scene. The driver of the car turning into the driveway, 31-year-old Nicholas Lawrence Mueller of Maupin, was not injured. The highway was closed for about three-and-a-half hours during the on-scene investigation. The OSP was assisted by the Wasco County Sheriff’s Department, Maupin Ambulance, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Milepost 87 Fire Now 80% Contained
Milepost 87 fire officials have lowered all Level 2 “get set” evacuation advisories to Level 1. Wasco County Public Information Officer Stephanie Krell said the 150-acre fire at the east end of The Dalles is now at 80% containment. Crews remain on the scene but there are no active fires. Three primary structures were destroyed as a result of this fire: one brick and mortar home and two mobile homes. In addition, one mobile home, one outbuilding, and two pump houses suffered damage in the fire. Fire officials say the fire season is ramping up, so they ask people to stay diligent and help protect the region from wildfires.
Freeway Brush Fire Burns 3 1/2 Acres
A brush fire along Interstate 84 east of The Dalles Friday burned about three-and-a-half acres. The fire was reported shortly after 7 a.m. alongside westbound Interstate 84 between milepost 92 and 93. The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office says the head of the fire was knocked down by noon, and it was 60 percent contained. Mop up work continued Friday afternoon. Crews from Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, the U.S. Forest Service, Oregon Department of Forestry, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and Dallesport all responded to the fire, while the Oregon State Police and Oregon Department of Transportation coordinated traffic control.
TD Art Center Works On Long-Term Plan
The Dalles Art Center is moving from the fiscal crisis it endured in the early spring to developing a three-to-five year plan to allow the center to achieve its mission. New Executive Director Sally Johnson has been working with the Center board and community members to focus on a fundraising and development plan, and she says they are currently at 70 percent of their annual development goal. She says they have been working on receiving grants from a number of foundations, but also the Center has had a number of individual donors help them build a larger budget and put them in a better financial place.