Oregon Second District Congressman Cliff Bentz has introduced a bill he says will improve transparency and ensure meaningful input from local water users in the operation of federal water projects. Bentz says the Federal Water Projects Consultation Act would require federal agencies to provide contractors with ongoing opportunities to engage during Endangered Species Act consultation, increase transparency around biological assessments and biological opinions, clearly explain the scientific and legal basis for actions that could reduce water deliveries, allow affected entities to review and comment on draft biological opinions, and ensure meaningful participation when developing alternatives that impact water supply. The legislation applies to federal water projects managed by the Bureau of Reclamation across Reclamation states. Bentz believes that decisions are often made without adequate input from local contractors, irrigation districts, and the communities that depend on these water projects. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
NDI Names King As Volunteer Of The Year
The Next Door has named Christy King as our Volunteer of the Year. King is a mentor with Gorge Youth Mentoring. King has dedicated countless hours to exploring the Gorge, trying new experiences, and supporting her mentee, Damian, grown in ways that go far beyond GYM’s program requirements. Together, they hike scenic trails, visit history museums, go bowling, enjoy food outings, attend cultural events like the Gorge Festival of Nations, and spend time wildlife viewing, spotting sea lions, sea otters, and pikas. In the winter, they visit the mountain to sled and snowshoe, and in the summer, they regularly take part in free stand up paddleboarding with Wylde Wind and Water in Hood River. Damian’s mother describes King as “an amazing match,” and says that without her, Damian wouldn’t have access to so many enriching experiences.
TD Council Approves Federal Street Plaza Contract
The Dalles City Council approved a contract with Ajax Engineering for construction of the Federal Street Plaza. Cost is $3.398 million, which came in about $400,000 under engineer’s estimates. Construction is expected to start in June. Discussion centered mainly over the inclusion of a water feature that will cost approximately $1 million, and whether that was a good use of funds, especially with concerns over water use. Consultant Mike Zillis with the firm Walker Macy told the Council any delays in moving forward would likely increase the cost of the project significantly given current inflation, and set construction back to 2027. Councilor Dan Richardson says the plaza is an opportunity to advance as a community. The Council vote was 4-1, with Ben Wring opposing.
HR Council Moves Toward Moratorium On Data Center Development
The Hood River City Council voted to ask municipal staff to bring them a resolution declaring a temporary moratorium on the acceptance, processing, and approval of applications for data center development within the City of Hood River. The City does not currently have specific policies or development code provisions tailored to data centers, but the on-going update process for the code is expected to address them. There is also the reality that there are no current commercial or industrial parcels within Hood River that could handle a standard size data center, which generally requires approximately 40 acres of land. Councilor Anna Cavalieri voted for having the moratorium resolution brought forward, but also said it was “a solution looking for a problem.” The moratorium would be through the end of 2026.
April 13 Prep Sports Roundup
Monday Schedule
Boys Golf
Hood River Valley finished third to Canby and LaSalle in the second Northwest Oregon Conference tournament of the season at Persimmon Golf Club in Gresham. Aksel Betz shot the best score of the day for the Eagles with an 83.
The Dalles finished seventh in the Pendleton Invitational at Birch Creek. Andrew Westin and Caden Rippy tied for 25th to top the Riverhawk finishers.
Girls Golf
Hood River Valley finished fourth in a Northwest Oregon Conference tournament at Willamette Valley Country Club in Canby. HRV’s Rayla Yasui shot a 94 to finish fifth individually.
Dufur won the Pendleton Invitational at Birch Creek, easily outpacing runner-up Pendleton. The Rangers’ Tygh Timinsky won medalist honors with an eight-over-par 80, winning by 16 shots.
Boys Soccer
Columbia 2, King’s Way Christian 0
Fort Vancouver 13, Stevenson 1
Girls Lacrosse
Hood River Valley 17, Summit 4
Girls Flag Football
Central Christian 37, The Dalles 12
Hotel Application For HR News Building Site Withdrawn
The application to build a hotel on the site of the former Hood River News building has been withdrawn by applicant Line 29 Architecture. The Hood River City Council was scheduled this evening to continue the public hearing on the municipal planning commission denial of a site plan review application for the project. But City Planning Director Dustin Nilsen says Line 29 informed the City late last week they were withdrawing their application. The hotel had been the subject of intense opposition, with those against it claiming it was incompatible with the surrounding neighborhood, and would create parking and traffic problems in the nearby area. The Hood River City Council will still meet tonight at 6 p.m. in Hood River City Hall. The Dalles City Council meets at 5:30 this evening in their chambers. Highlighting their agenda is a contract with Ajax Engineering to proceed with construction of the Federal Street plaza.
TD Outreach Team Emphasizes Ag Labor Needs To Fed Officials
When The Dalles Community Outreach Team made its visit to Washington, D.C. to advocate for local needs to federal officials, one of the subjects they emphasized was the need for area cherry orchardists to have a dependable labor supply for harvests. Port of The Dalles Executive Director and Outreach Team member Andrea Klaas says a key part of the message was emphasizing they need those workers when the fruit is ready to be picked, and that is a narrow window for cherries. Klaas says they told the story of how the cost of doing business for agriculture, from labor costs to tariffs to high fuel costs, keeps increasing and making it difficult for those growing food.
April 10-11 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Hood River Valley 12, Ida B. Wells 7: The Eagles recovered from a 7-2 deficit after four innings to grab the win, tying the game with five runs in the fifth inning, then taking the lead on a two-run Tyson Harjo single in the sixth. Harjo pitched 3 1/3 innings of perfect relief. HRV has now won four straight games heading into Tuesday’s Northwest Oregon Conference opener at Parkrose.
The Dalles sweeps Knappa 11-1 and 9-0: Evan Ortega had an inside the park home run, a double, and two runs batted in during the opener, then combined with Gunner Bustos, and Chase Peterson on a one-hitter in the nightcap.
Toutle Lake 13, Columbia 11: The Ducks scored three in the sixth and one in the seventh to pull out the window. Brody Landgren had a four-hit day atop the Bruin lineup.
Charles Wright Academy 12, Columbia 2
Sherman splits with Union, losing game one 6-1, but winning game two 8-4: Creed Weedman drove in two runs while giving up just two hits over 5 2/3 innings in the second contest.
Track and Field
Columbia was first and Stevenson second in both the boys and girls portions of the Howard Kreps Bruin Invitational in White Salmon. Columbia’s Sara Miller won three events and Dufur’s Hailee Pechanec won two in the girls’ compatition, while Stevenson’s Jude Travinski and Trout Lake’s Jayden Kusky won two apiece in the boys’ events.
Hood River Valley’s Diyora Khudoidodova won the girls’ high jump and Syl Perrin won the girls 3,000 meters at the Wilsonville Invitational.
Willow Ziegenhagen won the girls’ javelin and Evelyn Rogers was second in the shot put to highlight The Dalles’ effort at the Need For Speed Invitational at Sherwood.
Horizon Christian’s Charlie Haynie won both the boys’ 110 and 300 meter hurdles at the Lower Columbia Invitational.
Boys Tennis
The Dalles 6, Stanfield 1
Girls Tennis
Hood River Valley 6, Crook County 2
Hood River Valley 7, Caldera 1
The Dalles 5, Stanfield 2
Girls Flag Football
Reynolds 32, The Dalles 6
OSP Asks For Help Solving Pond Contamination Near White River Wildlife Area
The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the individual or individuals suspected of contaminating a pond near the White River Wildlife Area in Tygh Valley. The OSP says on March 26, multiple cans of spray foam were located in a small pond bordering the White River Wildlife Area. The cans had been compromised, causing the foam to leak into the water. It appeared that the cans and foam had been there for several days prior to their discovery. Information leading to the identification and citation or arrest of the individuals could yield a reward of $300. Anyone with information may email a tip to TIP@osp.oregon.gov or contact the Oregon State Police Dispatch at 800-442-2068 or by calling *OSP (*677) from a mobile phone. Reference case number SP26-100289.
April 9 Prep Sports Roundup
Softball
The Dalles 14, Hood River Valley 1: Morgan Donivan doubled twice and drove in three runs, while Ainslee Eisland hit a two-run homer as the Riverhawks cruised after a seven-run second inning.
Columbia 12, Stevenson 1: Julia Mullinix drove in five runs on three doubles. Fiona Grabb had three hits and four RBI as the Bruins scored 11 runs in the opening three innings.
Baseball
Columbia 10, Stevenson 3: Cameron Collins had three hits and three runs batted in to pace CHS. Garrick Satuer and Trenton Boydston combined to limit the Bulldogs to one hit.
Track and Field
Wilsonville was the boys’ winner and Putnam topped the girls in a three-school Northwest Oregon Conference meet at Henderson Stadium. HRV’s Matt Trickey won the boys’ 100 and 200 meters, while the Eagles’ Georgiana Williams won the girls’ 100 and 200.
Boys Tennis
LaSalle 7, Hood River Valley 1
The Dalles 5, Sisters 3
Girls Tennis
Hood River Valley 4, LaSalle 4
Boys Volleyball
Barlow def. Hood River Valley 21-25, 13-25, 25-21, 25-11, 15-12
Molalla def. The Dalles 25-18, 25-11, 25-20