YouthThink and a number of other organizations have received a state grant to make Naloxone more available in Wasco County. Naloxone is a medication used to reverse or reduce the effects of opioids. Law enforcement in Wasco County already carry Naloxone kits while on duty. YouthThink’s Debby Jones says they want make access to Naloxone easier. Jones says they hope to roll out the project in March. She adds partners in Wasco, Hood River, and Sherman counties are looking at doing a fentanyl awareness campaign to educate people about what that drug actually is, the dangers of it, and dispelling myths about it.
Parkdale Nursery Receives Grant For Tree Seedling Production
The Oregon Department of Forestry says Lava Nursery in Parkdale is one of 10 tree nurseries across the state receiving a total of over $4.4 million this year to help them increase their ability to produce badly needed seedlings. The seedlings are needed to help reforest millions of acres deforested in recent years by wildfire, disease and pests. The money was given to ODF after passage by the Oregon Legislature in 2021 of a bill was a response to the devastating 2020 wildfires which burned a million acres of forest. Lava Nursery received $458,000. Nurseries are using the funds to invest in everything from adding irrigation to building new greenhouses and seedbed space as well as storage facilities for storing seedling trees. To qualify for a grant, a nursery had to have experience growing high-quality commercial conifer trees for reforestation in Oregon, including Douglas-fir, grand fir, noble fir, western red cedar, ponderosa pine and others.
Harris Bill For Educator Reprimand Removal Passes House
The Washington State House on Monday unanimously passed legislation from 17th District Rep. Paul Harris that would give educators with a reprimand an opportunity for redemption. House Bill 1113 would require the Professional Educator Standards Board to adopt rules for reviewing and vacating reprimands issued to certificated professional educators that did not involve a student. Currently, there is no process in place to vacate a reprimand on an educator’s certificate. Harris noted the policy does would not include teachers with reprimands involving students, but educators with minor infractions would be given an opportunity to clear their record. HB 1113 would not require the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to notify eligible people, but it would direct the OSPI to report to the Legislature the number of people with a certificate or permit who have submitted a petition to have a reprimand vacated under the PESB rules. The OSPI would also be required to report the number of people who had a reprimand vacated under the PESB rules. The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
Waters Introduces First Bill
Washington State 17th District Rep. Kevin Waters introduced his first bill as a freshman legislator, which would give many of Washington’s smaller businesses a boost in their hiring efforts. House Bill 1730 would allow, under specific and limited circumstances, youth between the ages of 18 to 21 to be employed in establishments traditionally classified as off-limits to persons under the age of 21. The Republican from Stevenson says the bill would make it legal for anyone at least 18-years-old to perform services unrelated to the sale or service of alcohol to enter and remain on premises, but only to carry out the duties of their employment as a dishwasher, cook, chef, sanitation specialist, or other kitchen staff. The individual could not perform any services or work in the bar, lounge, or dining area of the licensed premises, and a supervisor over the age of 21 must be present at all times. HB 1730 has been referred to the House Regulated Substance and Gaming Committee, and is scheduled for a hearing on Thursday.
Human Remains From 1964 Identified
Human remains found on the Sherman County side of the John Day River in March of 1989 have been identified through modern DNA testing methods as those of a man reported missing after a large flooding event in 1964. The Oregon State Police says the remains have been identified as those of David West, Jr., who disappeared after trying to cross the John Day River during a flood in 1964. West was known to cross the John Day often to feed cattle, to the point of building a makeshift cable car across the river to assist in navigating the waters. On the day of the flood, West was thought to be feeding cattle near Ashwood. A friend who went to check on him saw the cable car had been washed away, a large tree that held the cable was uprooted, West’s dog was injured on the bank of the river, and West himself was never heard from again. The Oregon Medical Examiner’s Office had held the remains found in 1989, and recently a private DNA lab was able to reveal the name of two biological relatives of West, and they provided samples that confirmed the identification.
MCFR Responds To Travel Trailer Fire
Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue says a travel trailer fire led to minor damage to a residence on Saturday evening. According to MCFR, the fire was reported in the vicinity of Ideal Trailer Park in The Dalles shortly after 8:20 on Saturday evening. Firefighters found a 28-foot travel trailer with smoke showing and flames exposed to a nearby residence. Crews established a water supply and deployed handlines to protect the exposed residence and knock down the trailer fire. The trailer sustained smoke, heat, and water damage, while damage to the residence was minor. There were no injuries. MCFR said the probable cause of the fire appeared to be an electrical malfunction in the wiring.
Cherry Day Wednesday; Hort Meeting Thursday
It’s a busy time for the Mid-Columbia tree-fruit industry, with OSU Extension’s annual Cherry Day set for Wednesday in The Dalles followed by the Winter Horticultural Meeting on Thursday in Hood River. OSU Extension’s Ashley Thompson says they will discuss a variety of topics at the meeting, including entomology, horticulture, legislative updates, and technology. Both meetings carry with them two pesticide credits for producers if they stay for the whole session. Cherry Day begins at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, and the Winter Horticultural meeting starts Thursday morning at 8 a.m. at the Best Western Hood River Inn.
Helfrich Appointed To Housing Production Panel
Oregon State 52nd District Representative Jeff Helfrich has been appointed to the Governor’s Housing Production Advisory Council. Helfrich was tabbed to the panel by House Speaker Dan Rayfield, and is also the vice-chair of the House Housing and Homelessness Committee. Helfrich says his goal is to see new housing started sooner rather than later, adding there is a need to clear red tape that builders and developers must work through to start a project. In addition, Helfrich says every region of Oregon unique, so flexibility is needed to allow local jurisdictions to move ahead with solutions that are right for them.
Harmony Of The Gorge Singing Valentines Are Back
Harmony of the Gorge Chorus is once again taking orders for their Singing Valentines. It’s the biggest fundraiser of the year for the area’s Sweet Adelines organization. Harmony of the Gorge’s Judy Galloway says they have a quartet ready to go around the region on Valentine’s Day to sing to those you love. They will go to locations in the Gorge and sing two songs to anyone you like, plus give them a card and a rose. The chorus will also call, email, or use Facebook to send a gift of song anywhere in the country. To place an order, call 541-490-2481 or visit harmonyofthegorge.com.
February 3-4 Prep Sports Roundup
Boys Basketball
Crook County 70, The Dalles 46
Hood River Valley 65, Centennial 59
King’s Way Christian 66, Columbia 56
Seton Catholic 59, Stevenson 55
Mannahouse Academy 70, Stevenson 53
Horizon Christian 61, Trout Lake 35
South Wasco 67, Horizon Christian 52
South Wasco 61, Dufur 45
Dufur 70, Lyle-Wishram 47
Lyle-Wishram 63, Klickitat-Glenwood 56
Klickitat-Glenwood 59, Trout Lake 55
Sherman 59, Condon 37
Goldendale 56, Kittitas 33
Girls Basketball
Columbia 62, Castle Rock 31
Stevenson 46, Mannahouse Academy 41
Trout Lake 72, Horizon Christian 16
Trout Lake 56, Klickitat-Glenwood 28
South Wasco 64, Dufur 38
South Wasco 52, Horizon Christian 27
Sherman 42, Condon 26
Dufur 53, Lyle-Wishram 24
Klickitat-Glenwood 79, Lyle-Wishram 12
Goldendale 41, Kittitas 31
Girls Wrestling
Lauraine Smith won her weight class while Natalia Solorio Campos finished third to also qualify for state for Hood River Valley at the Class 6A/5A regional girls wrestling tournament at Century. Smith won all four of her matches at 155 pounds by fall, winning the final in 3:16 over Isabel Herring of Cleveland. Campos won three out of four to advance, topping Ava McNichol of Reynolds by fall 2:27 into the third place match. The state tournament is in three weeks in Portland.
Columbia’s Jessica Polkinghorn won the 155 pound division at a girls’ sub-regional tournament in Washougal, while Madison Kiemele and Kali Watson of Goldendale had second place finishes at another sub-regional in Quincy.
Boys Wrestling
Hood River Valley finished third and The Dalles eighth in the Hood River Memorial Tournament at Vannet Court. HRV’s Connor Farlow won the 113 pound division. Forest Grove won the team title.
Columbia had two individual champions and Stevenson one at the Trico League Championships in Stevenson. For the Bruins, Sawyer Muehlbauer won at 170 pounds and Matthias Posini was first at 285. Solomon Mahoney won the 132 pound division for the Bulldogs. Columbia finished third as a team and Stevenson fourth, as Castle Rock won the team title.
Goldendale’s Matthew Gray finished second at 140 pounds to lead the Timberwolves’ effort at EWAC Districts at Granger.
Alpine Skiing
Emily Teets of Hood River Valley won for the fourth straight week, winning the girls’ Mt. Hood League giant slalom at Ski Bowl West. HRV’s Zoe Mortenson was fifth and Ella Smith of The Dalles was eighth. Trout Lake’s Rowan Shuman won the boys’ race, with HRV’s Lars Welch was fifth, Grey Roetscioneder of The Dalles was eighth and the Riverhawks’ Cooper Klindt was tenth.