The Northwest Cherry Festival announced its honorees for this weekend’s event. Carmelo and Carmen Gamez will serve as King Bing and Queen Anne. Carmelo Gamez has worked in the local orchard industry for four decades, and sat on a number of local boards, while Carmen is a childcare provider with the Oregon Child Development Coalition. The festival parade grand marshals will be Dave and Karen Cooper. The Cooper Family Orchards has had 150 years of continuous family operation. The Northwest Cherry Festival Parade will start on Saturday morning at 10 from 6th and Webber, taking the usual route through downtown The Dalles.
No Commercial Huckleberry Permits On Pinchot In 2026
The Gifford Pinchot National Forest announced commercial huckleberry permits will again not be issued in 2026. The decision follows months of engagement that included an online public questionnaire, a community roundtable in February, conversations with industry, and government-to-government consultations with tribal nations. The Yakama Nation, Tulalip Tribes, and the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians each formally requested permanent cessation of commercial huckleberry harvest on the Forest, saying without a commercial harvest last year tribal gatherers observed improved berry abundance, reduced harassment, and safer gathering conditions. Forest officials say they are initiating a multi-year planning effort to evaluate long-term management options. Huckleberry fields across the Forest are experiencing long-term decline from conifer encroachment, fire suppression, drought, and invasive species. Personal-use huckleberry picking remains open under existing Forest regulations.
TDPD Warns Of Counterfeit Jewelry Scam
The Dalles Police Department says it has received reports of an individual in the area posing as a wealthy seller and offering counterfeit jewelry for cash. The department says this is a scam. The suspect has been approaching people in busy parking lots and is reportedly driving a black 2025 Ford Expedition. The Dalles Police advise you to not engage or make any purchases. If you encounter this individual, report it to local law enforcement.
Applications For 2025 Drought Loans Remain Open
The Small Business Administration says eligible small businesses and private nonprofit organizations in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Klickitat, and Skamania counties have until May 22 to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by drought last summer. SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to small businesses and private non-profits with financial losses directly related to the drought. The program is not available to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises. The loans are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the organization did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills which could not be paid due to the disaster. To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance.
April 21 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Hood River Valley 9, Putnam 6: Tyson Harjo went four for five and drove in two runs while pitching four innings of scoreless relief, as the Eagles won their eighth straight game and stayed unbeaten in the Northwest Oregon Conference. Bodie Stuben went three for four at the plate with three RBI.
Seton Catholic 14, Columbia 1
Stevenson 13, Fort Vancouver 7: The Bulldogs scored three runs in the sixth inning and four in the seventh to grab the win.
Stanfield 9, Sherman 8: Creed Weedman drove in two runs for Sherman, as the Huskies late rally could not overcome an early deficit.
Softball
Putnam 9, Hood River Valley 6: The Eagles’ seventh inning comeback effort fell just short. Honey Wampler-Bryan went three for three and drove in a run.
Seton Catholic 9, Columbia 3: Seton Catholic stayed unbeaten in the Trico League with the win. Joella Posini homered for the Bruins.
Fort Vancouver 20, Stevenson 5
Track and Field
Savina Davis won two events for Hood River Valley in a three-school Northwest Oregon Conference matchup at LaSalle. Parkrose was the boys’ winner, and LaSalle topped the girls’ standings.
Boys Tennis
Hood River Valley 7, Putnam 1
Girls Tennis
Hood River Valley 8, Putnam 0
Boys Golf
The Dalles was fourth in a Tri-Valley Conference tournament at The Dalles Country Club. Andrew Westin fired an 83 to finish third individually.
Girls Golf
Hood River Valley was fourth in a Northwest Oregon Conference Tournament at Stone Creek. Rayla Yasui was the top HRV finisher in 12th.
Boys Lacrosse
Oregon Episcopal 13, Hood River Valley 7
New Bridge Awaits Fed Funding, But Work Continues
The Hood River-White Salmon Bridge project is awaiting word from the Federal Highway Administration on whether it will receive a $532 million Bridge Improvement Program grant during the current funding cycle. The Bridge Authority should learn by September whether they will get the award that would allow construction to begin on the $1.12 billion project. Bridge Authority board co-chair Grant Polson says behind the scenes work continues to be ready for when full funding is achieved, including testing the locations in the Columbia River where the bridge foundations will be. Sixty-percent design work should be ready this summer, and the goal remains for actual construction to begin in the fall of 2027, assuming the federal funding coming through.
Cherry Festival Vendor Market Moves To Future Federal Street Plaza
This year’s vendor market for the Northwest Cherry Festival on Saturday is located where the future Federal Street Plaza will be constructed. The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson says the former Tony’s Town and Country lot will also have vendors. Farquharson also says they have about half the usual number of vendors due to space issues and the market operation being shortened to just Saturday, but all the spaces they have are sold. The Community Fair will be on Fourth Street between Federal and Washington, and a Children’s Activity Fair will be located in the parking lot between The Dalles Civic Auditorium and the Medical Arts Building.
HR County Commission Discusses Opening To Forest Policy Document
Hood River County Commissioners started what figures to be a number of discussions surrounding a revised forest management plan policy with a discussion on what should be in the opening paragraph. Commissioner Arthur Babitz questioned putting the priority of revenue generation in the first paragraph without acknowledging other goals, avoiding a priority order. But Commission Chair Jennifer Euwer noted it is the Commission’s job in putting together the policy in a manner that is clear about what the County will seek to do. County Administrator Allison Williams pointed out it helps staff to provide clarity. The issue was tabled to a future meeting as Commissioners consider ideas for the opening paragraph of the policy. In other business, the Commission decided to provide a letter of support for the Mt. Hood National Forest’s planned acquisition of 1,900 acres on the West Fork of the Hood River.
HR Schools Budget Committee Meets April 28
The Hood River County School District is getting ready for its budget committee to meet on Tuesday. Superintendent Bill Newton has been giving updates to the school board over the past few months, with continual adjustments as the project has progressed. Newton said at this point, the district does not anticipate having to issue reductions in force notices, as enrollment continues to trend downward. The first budget committee meeting will be next Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. at Hood River Valley High School, with a second scheduled for May 5.
April 20 Prep Sports Roundup
Boys Golf
Hood River Valley finished fourth in the latest Northwest Oregon Conference Tournament at Langdon Farms. Aksel Betz was the top finisher for HRV, shooting a 13-over-par 84 to finish in eighth.
Girls Golf
Dufur’s Tygh Timinsky won medalist honors at the Seaside Invitational at Astoria Country Club. Timinsky had an eagle and two birdies in the final five holes to shoot a five-over-par 78 to win by six shots. Elliott Winwood of The Dalles finished 11th, while Hood River Valley finished third in the team standings.
Boys Lacrosse
Hood River Valley 14, Glencoe 13 (OT)