Two people were injured in a one-vehicle accident on Highway 141 south of Trout Lake on Sunday night. According to the Washington State Patrol, the SUV driven by a 26-year-old Portland man was northbound on Highway 141 near milepost 21 in icy conditions after 10:30 p.m. Sunday. The WSP says the vehicle lost traction due to the icy conditions, swerved off the roadway into a field and then rolled several times before striking a tree. The driver and his 25-year-old female passenger were taken to Skyline Hospital in White Salmon for treatment of injuries. In its report, the WSP said the accident was caused by going a speed too fast for the conditions.
Klickitat County Approves 2025 Budget
The Klickitat County Commission approved its budget for 2025 along with the property tax levies for the year. The budget represents a 10% reduction from the 2024 amended budget, with the property tax levy amount the County receives moving up by 1% as outlined in state law. Commissioner Jacob Anderson pointed out that most property appraisals are up, which will impact the tax bills owners receive. Anderson added the Commission’s actions to approve the budget and the levy have no impact on assessed property value.
AOC Meeting Talks Transportation Funding
County officials from around the state gathered at the Association of Oregon Counties meeting last week. Hood River County Commission Chair Jennifer Euwer says state funding, or the lack of it, was a big topic. Euwer noted one main discussion point was ensuring that the split of Oregon gas tax dollars remain at 50 percent to the state, 30 percent to counties, and 20 percent to the cities. She adds with the gas tax funding diminishing as electric vehicles become more prominent, there’s a need to find another revenue source for transportation, but what to use is a matter of debate. Euwer said funding to replace aging infrastructure was another major discussion point.
Wolves & People Subject Of Sense Of Place Talk
The latest in the Sense of Place series this Wednesday will feature University of Washington People and Wildlife Lab PhD student Lara Volski discussing her research about the return of wolves and the establishment of the Big Muddy Pack, and how people feel about them. Volski says she originally was working on testing the use of livestock protection tools to prevent coyotes from predating sheep. But it evolved into working with communities to answer the questions around wolves together. In-person tickets for the Sense of Place talk December 11 at 7 p.m. at the Columbia Center for the Arts is sold out, but free access to the livestream is available at senseofplacegorge.org.
December 6-7 Prep Sports Roundup
Boys Basketball
Hood River Valley 57, Summit 55
Sandy 68, Hood River Valley 55
St. Helens 68, The Dalles 59
South Wasco 65, Irrigon 58
North Clackamas Christian 37, Horizon Christian 34
Thorp 50, Klickitat-Glenwood 47
Mohawk 62, Trout Lake 58
Central Christian 50, Trout Lake 38
C.S. Lewis Academy 68, Lyle-Wishram 65
Lyle-Wishram 63, Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 49
Enterprise 63, Sherman 61
Sherman 58, Elkton 38
Tri-Cities Prep 80, Goldendale 46
Girls Basketball
Eagle Point 55, Hood River Valley 32
Ridgeview 49, Hood River Valley 40
The Dalles 50, St. Helens 47
Columbia 41, Riverside 25
Goldendale 54, Stevenson 47
Tri-Cities Prep 59, Goldendale 11
South Wasco 53, Irrigon 31
Trout Lake-Glenwood 59, Mohawk 24
Trout Lake-Glenwood 47, Camas Valley 27
Sherman 50, Prairie City 47
Sherman 44, Elkton 10
Boys Wrestling
Hood River Valley finished 6th at the Tyrone Woods Tournament in Oregon City, with Connor Farlow and Leyton Adams grabbing third place finishes.
The Dalles’ Alfred Brackenbury and Columbia’s Matthias Posini each earned third place finishes at the Ranger Classic in Estacada.
Stevenson’s Lance Draper, Nolan Carney, and Jonah Mednick all won their weight classes at a tournament in Ridgefield.
Goldendale’s Rydell Myers, Kash Wright, Brock Armstrong, and Storey Woodbury all finished second in their divisions at a tournament at Davis High School in Yakima.
Girls Wrestling
Hood River Valley’s Natalia Solano was second at 235 at the Century Tournament.
The Dalles’ Ivy Arguello was second and Columbia’s Eda O’Connor fourth at 113 pounds at the Ranger Classic in Estacada.
December 5 Prep Basketball Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
Winlock 53, Stevenson 42
Sherman 57, Union 53 (OT)
Girls Basketball
Columbia 56, Hockinson 33
Union 64, Sherman 27
Replacement Of Wicks Plant Tops The Dalles Water Master Plan
The Dalles City Council will consider adopting a draft drinking water system master plan at its meeting on Monday. Topping the list of projects in need of immediate attention, replacement of the Wicks Water Treatment Plant, which is over 75 years old and past its useful life. The Dalles Public Works Director Dave Anderson says the estimated cost to replace the plant is $88 million, but he says funds from new Google developments and the revenue the City receives from the water use will be a key part of paying for it. Anderson said rate adjustments to municipal water customers would be a part of the funding plan, adding that rates have not been changed since December 2014. The Council considers the master plan at its meeting starting at 6 p.m. Monday evening in The Dalles City Hall.
Hood River Tree Lighting Coming Friday
Hood River’s Annual Community Holiday Tree Lighting and Street Festival is set for Friday evening. The festival will be held from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Oak Street, with a variety of stores open during that time period. Some streets will be closed to vehicles for the festival from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. They include Oak Street from 1st to 6th, 2nd Street from State to Cascade Avenue, and State Street from 1st to 4th. The tree lighting will take place between 5:45 and 6:15.
December 4 Prep Basketball Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
South Wasco 69, Dayville-Monument 23
Girls Basketball
The Dalles 49, Scappoose 44
C.S. Lewis 50, Horizon Christian 25
Wasco County Commission Approves First Readings Of Nuisance Changes
Wasco County Commissioners approved the first reading of amendments to the Nuisance and Abatement Ordinances and a Code Compliance Penalty Ordinance recommend by legal counsel. The changes essentially update and make clear the procedures for how the County proceeds when it receives a nuisance complaint. County Code Compliance Officer Ted Palmer told Commissioners the changes aim to make the enforcement process easier for citizens to understand. Palmer and County Community Development Director Kelly Howsley-Glover emphasized the goal remains voluntary compliance whenever possible. Second readings of the ordinances are planned for the Commission’s December 18 meeting.