Rich Polkinghorn is leaving his position as Hood River County School District Superintendent to take the same job with the White Salmon Valley School District. Polkinghorn has been in the Hood River district for 17 years as a teacher, coach, building administrator, and finally as superintendent the last three years. Polkinghorn and his family reside in White Salmon, and three of his four children are enrolled in that school district. He said the opportunity to align his personal and family values with his professional aspirations was an opportunity he needed to take. Polkinghorn will work with the Hood River County School District board of directors to determine his last day on the job in the Hood River district. The Hood River district board will discuss the process for hiring a new superintendent during their meeting this Wednesday.
Expect Delays On Highway 141 Next Couple Of Weeks
The Washington State Department of Transportation says people who travel through White Salmon and Bingen using Highway 141 should expect delays for the next couple of weeks. Beginning Monday, state road crews are using alternating single lane closures for pavement repair work. Travelers between White Salmon and Bingen will alternate intermittently through a single lane, with flaggers, daily from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through June 15. Travelers will follow a pilot car through the work zone and should expect delays of up to 20 minutes when flaggers are present. Residents in the area are advised that intermittent flashing lights and construction noise may be heard during the repairs.
Newhouse Introduces Bill To Preserve Gas Stove Access
Washington Fourth District Rep. Dan Newhouse introduced legislation to prohibit the Department of Energy from finalizing a proposed rule that would limit consumer access to gas kitchen ranges or ovens. The Sunnyside Republican co-sponsored H.R. 1615, the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act, which prohibits the Consumer Product Safety Commission from using federal funds to regulate gas stoves as a banned hazardous product, or issue or enforce a product safety standard that prohibits the use or sale of gas stoves or substantially increases their price. In February, the Department of Energy proposed an “energy efficiency standard” for gas cooking products, including an energy performance standard for residential cooktops. The House is expected to vote on this legislation this week.
Fire Off Wells Road Sunday
Local fire crews late Sunday afternoon responded to a fire off of Wells Road in Hood River County east of Pine Grove. Officials say the fire was reported as a burn pile that spread into timber. It occurred shortly before 6 p.m. Sunday, but forward progression was stopped within about 30 minutes. Wy’east Fire was assisted by crews from Hood River, Parkdale, the Oregon Department of Forestry, and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Initial reports put the size of the fire at 1.5 acres.
Visit Hood River Awards Grant Funds
Visit Hood River announced it has awarded $27,600 in matching funds in six grants through its Community Investment Grant Program. That’s over double what the organization that is the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce was able to distribute in 2022. Hood River Area Trail Stewards is receiving $7500 to support its purchase of equipment to maintain local mountain biking trails. $6000 goes to the Button Bridge Comedy Jamboree to support the inaugural shoulder season comedy event and scholarship fundraiser, while the Hood River Hotel received $5500 to support the Hood River Pride Celebration event. Both the Gorge Impact Film Festival and Music Festival of the Gorge received $3000 for their events, and the non-profit Wylde Wind and Water received $2600. Grants are given to applicants the organization feels contribute to community development and improvement by the enhancement, promotion, and sustainability of Hood River as a destination.
Riverhawks Rout Henley To Win State 4A Softball Title
The Dalles Riverhawks combined timely hitting and taking advantage of numerous Henley mistakes to rout the Hornets 16-0 in the Oregon Class 4A high school softball championship in Eugene and grab the school’s second state title in the sport.
The Riverhawks blew the game open with a seven-run third inning, as Jeilane Stewart’s three-run homer followed an error and a walk to start the inning. Run-scoring doubles by Despina Seufaulemua and Madalynn Sagapolutele helped take advantage of two walks and three wild pitches by the Hornets.
Zoe LeBreton singled home two runs in the fourth, followed by another RBI double by Seufaulemua to make the score 11-0.
And the Riverhawks tacked on five more in the fifth, with a two-run single from Seufaulemua.
Kennedy Abbas gave up only one hit and struck out five in the game stopped after five innings by the ten-run rule.
The Riverhawks had previously won a state high school softball championship in 1994.
YES To Operate Transitional Program For Ages 17-23
The Oregon Trail Transitional Living program for ages 17 to 23 will be operated by the Youth Empowerment Shelter beginning July 1. The Next Door has housed the program for over two decades, and has partnered with YES, which was founded in 2014 and operates the YES House which provides a shelter for ages 10 to 20 and other services. The Next Door’s Youth Services team will continue to provide resource connection, referrals, and support services to youth that YES serves. Next Door officials say the program’s transfer will allow each agency to focus on their respective areas of expertise. The current Oregon Trail Transitional Living property will continue to be owned and managed by Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation. Youth ages 17 to 23 that are currently, or at risk of becoming, houseless are eligible to apply for the program with YES. For more information, email information@yeshelter.org or visit the agency’s website at www.yeshelter.org.
Discovery Center To Reopen Interactive Activity Room Saturday
The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center will rededicate its all-ages interactive activity center on Saturday. The 900-square foot Explorer Room was closed over the winter for remodeling. Center Marketing Director Mikey Goyette says the room has been stocked with fun, hands-on activities for everyone. Goyette says the Discovery Center received numerous donations to do the renovation, including more than $17,000 from The Dalles Kiwanis Club. The room has been freshly painted, carpeted, and furnished with new UV-coated windows, kid-friendly furniture, a large screen with live video of the museum’s Bald Eagle habitat, a mural of the landscape of The Dalles, and a reading nook. The ribbon cutting is free and open to the public and will take place Saturday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Museum admission is free between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. for the ceremony.
STEM Fair To Be Held Saturday In Hood River
The Gorge STEM Fair, featuring hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering, and math, will take place this Saturday in Hood River. Julie Cucuel of the Gorge STEM Hub says the goal is to provide some family fun while also sparking the curiosity of youngsters in STEM topics. Cucuel says the fair is for all ages, with activities for the earliest learners all the way to up to adults. Education and industry partners will be on hand to give hands-on opportunities for people to enjoy. It’s a free event, and will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday on the Horizon Christian School sports field at 700 Pacific Avenue in Hood River.
Smoke Plan To Be Released Soon
Coming off a tabletop exercise with community partners earlier in the spring, Oregon State University Extension has completed a community response plan for smoke in the region and expects to release it soon. OSU Extension’s Livi Plihal said the exercise showed for some smoke vulnerable groups like children and seniors, there were more factors to think about. Much of the purpose of the plan is to get air quality information out to people, and teaching them to understand it. Plihal says they hope that people will get their own air quality monitors so they have access to real-time air quality index data.