Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill on Tuesday that allows judges to hold negligent drivers more accountable. House Bill 1112, authored by 17th District Rep. Paul Harris, will allow judges, at their discretion, to impose criminal penalties for negligent driving involving the death of a vulnerable victim. It also creates a gross misdemeanor offense of negligent driving with a vulnerable victim in the first degree. HB 1112 allows judges to find people guilty of an offense when they operate a vehicle in a manner that is both negligent and endangers, or is likely to endanger, any person or property and causes the death of someone using a public way. Under the new law, a judge can punish an offender with up to 364 days of imprisonment, up to a $5,000 fine, and suspension of driving privileges for 90 days. The bill is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
HR Schools Wait On Levy Result & State Revenue Forecast
It’s a big week for the Hood River County School District. with its local option levy on the ballot and the state’s revenue forecast coming out on Wednesday. District Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says a strong revenue forecast would provide a better chance of the state K-12 funding number for the upcoming biennium going up from $9.9 billion to $10.3 billion. He says for the Hood River district, that increase would add about $1.5 million in revenue. Polkinghorn noted the budget work the district has been doing assumes a passage of the local option levy and a state funding figure of $9.9 billion.
May 15 Prep Sports Roundup
Oregon High School Golf Tournaments First Rounds
5A Boys at Emerald Valley in Creswell: Davis Kerr of Hood River Valley shot a 92 in round one, 20-over-par and 16 shots in back of the leaders, in a tie for 47th.
5A Girls at Quail Valley in Banks: Sierra Muenzer of Hood River Valley was in 53rd after round one.
4A Boys at Trysting Tree in Corvallis: The Dalles is in 5th after the first round, 32 shots behind leaders Baker. Keeler Lawson is tied for eighth, seven shots in back of the lead, after a six-over 77.
4A Girls at Trysting Tree in Corvallis: Dufur sits in second place, four shots back of leader Crook County. The Rangers’ Tora Timinsky shot an even-par 71 to hold second place individually, one shot back of leader Esha Reddy of Marist. Dufur’s Tygh Timinsky is in sixth at 11-over 82. Katelyn Vassar of The Dalles is in eighth after a 14-over-par 85.
Boys Lacrosse
Hood River Valley 16, Ida B. Wells 1
Bonham One Of Three Senators Hitting 10 Unexcused Absences
Two Republicans and an Independent taking part in a boycott that has stalled hundreds of bills in the Oregon Senate, including measures on abortion and gender-affirming care, were disqualified Monday from reelection under a new constitutional amendment. One of the trio is 26th District Republican Senator Daniel Bonham. The GOP-led walkout of the Democrat-dominated Senate has stretched to 10 days. Each of the three affected senators accumulated 10 unexcused absences, making them ineligible to serve in the Legislature for the period after their terms expire under a ballot measure voters passed overwhelmingly last year. On Bicoastal Media’s Mid-Columbia Today program on Friday Bonham, whose term has just started and would not face going to the ballot until 2026, said he believed Measure 113 is unconstitutional. But he also added he was willing to risk his political future over the abortion and gender-affiming health care protection bill he believes is an assault on parental rights because it lacks notification requirements when youth seek such treatments. The other boycotting senators who reached the 10-day limits for automatic disqualification are Republican Dennis Linthicum and Independent Brian Boquist. Measure 113 left unclear whether they can run for office as candidates, even though they could not serve.
Parkdale Man Drowns In Hood River Marina Boat Accident
A 70-year-old Parkdale man drowned in a boating accident at the Hood River Marina on Friday evening. According to the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, the sailboat Dennis Howe was on was in the process of docking in a slip at the time when he fell from the boat just after 6:45 Friday evening. When Sheriff’s and Hood River City Police officers responded Howe had not resurfaced, even though multiple bystanders had gone into the water to attempt to find him. The Skamania County Dive Team was called in to assist in recovery, but darkness fell before that could happen. Howe’s remains were recovered Saturday morning. The incident remains under investigation. Anybody who may have witnessed the incident or have relevant information is asked to contact the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office.
Ballots Due On Tuesday
Ballots for Oregon’s special districts election must be placed in official dropboxes by 8 p.m. Tuesday or postmarked by Tuesday. A number of different seats on school boards, port commissions, parks and recreation district boards, and more are on the ballot. In Hood River County, the school district’s attempt to renew its local option levy is also being voted on. Official ballot drop boxes in Wasco County are located at the County Courthouse on 511 Washington in The Dalles, city halls in Dufur and Mosier, the Maupin Civic Center, and Three Warriors Market in Simnasho. In addition, The Dalles Rotary Club will be doing its drive-thru ballot collection Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. outside the Wasco County Courthouse. In Hood River County ballots can be dropped off at the County Election Office on 601 State in Hood River, Cascade Locks City Hall, and Parkdale Elementary School.
Smoking & Vaping Prohibited At Lewis & Clark Festival Park
Smoking and vaping is now prohibited at Lewis & Clark Festival Park in The Dalles. The Dalles City Council recently voted unanimously to do that at the request of the North Central Public Health District and others. The decision aligns Festival Park with the nine parks with The Dalles city limits run by the Northern Wasco County Parks & Recreation District that have tobacco-free policies. The City’s prohibition does carry with it a $100 fine for those found in violation. Police officers are directed to educate the public about the prohibition rather than issue a ticket when initially enforcing the ban. NCPHD officials say the prohibition will protect the public from secondhand smoke, reduce litter and fire danger, and help people who have quit or are trying to quit tobacco avoid being triggered by being around smoking.
Tourism Time Coming In The Dalles
Coming off a successful Northwest Cherry Festival, The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce is now getting ready for the upcoming tourism season. Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson said it was busy on Mother’s Day weekend, but a better gauge for visitor traffic in downtown The Dalles will be the upcoming weekend without any kind of holiday attached. She notes Travel Oregon is predicting tourism growth in the upcoming year. Farquharson adds they have been working to the get their promotional materials deeper into the Willamette Valley corridor.
Warm Temperatures Means More On The Waterfront
The arrival of warm temperatures means the beginning of larger crowds on the Hood River Waterfront. For the Port of Hood River, that means preparing to deal with the issues that come with those numbers on their recreational sites. Port Executive Director Kevin Greenwood says hiring maintenance workers has been an issue, but at this point he believes they will be fully staffed for the summer to handle garbage, cleaning restroom facilities, and doing landscaping among other tasks. Greenwood says parking will continue to be tight, so consider arriving early in the day to visit the waterfront.
Paving Work This Week On Two Streets In The Dalles
The Dalles Public Works is doing paving work on East 18th and Bridge streets this week, installing new asphalt, weather permitting. Work on East 18th is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, then moves on to Bridge Street on Wednesday and Thursday. Work hours are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on each scheduled work day. Full street closures will be in effect most of each work day. Motor vehicles and bicyclists will be detoured to adjacent side streets. Where sidewalks exist, pedestrian and sidewalk access will remain open through the duration of this work. No parking will be allowed within the project areas due to curb-to-curb asphalt removal and replacement. No parking signs will be place on the curb 48 hours before the project moves into each work area.