The Rand Road housing project being undertaken by the City of Hood River and Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation has received three million dollars in funding in the recently approved federal omnibus spending bill. CCHC board vice-chair David Sauter says while this affordable housing development is still in its early stages, the federal money will open other opportunities. Community Development Partners in partnership with the Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation and the City of Hood River is looking to place over 120 units of housing of various types on the seven acres. They are seeking funding from the state’s Local Innovation and Fast Track, or LIFT, program in 2023 after not receiving monies in 2022.
Discovery Center Bringing In GEO
The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center is in the process of bringing into its fold the Gorge Ecology Outdoors program. Gorge Ecology Outdoors has been delivering Secrets, Science in Action, Gorge Explorers and additional outdoor science programs to students for 26 years. The Discovery Center’s Mikey Goyette says that program will combine well with the educational programs the Center already offers. The Discovery Center and Gorge Ecology Outdoors have worked together for a number of years on the Gorge Explorers program, which provides opportunities for elementary students in the Gorge to build connections between community and the local landscape through hands-on-learning and stewardship projects.
January 12 Prep Basketball Roundup
Boys Basketball
Wilsonville 63, Hood River Valley 43: The second-ranked Wildcats pulled away in the second half, as Kyle Counts scored 27 points and Kallen Gutridge 24. Sawyer Clemett scored 12 for HRV, and Zak Poole had 10.
LaCenter 54, Columbia 38: Spencer Karlson led CHS with 14 points.
Castle Rock 51, Stevenson 41: Kacen Bach topped Stevenson with 15 points.
Girls Basketball
Wilsonville 61, Hood River Valley 33: The Eagles received 11 points from Ryann Rosselle and 10 from Abby Schrankel, but could not match the conference leaders.
State Epidemiologist Says Virus Activity High, But Improvments Seen
Oregon’s state epidemiologist says respiratory virus activity remains high and hospitals are under strain, but he adds they are seeing improvements. Dr. Dean Sidelinger of the Oregon Health Authority says the state is well past the peak of RSV in children, and hospitalizations from it are decreasing rapidly. Influenza activity remains high in both adults and children, but Sidelinger said we are past the peak of the flu season for adults, and it is starting to decrease among children. COVID-19 hospitalizations have dropped in the last week. Sidelinger adds Oregon Health Sciences University modeling predicts a small increase in that number over the next month due to the highly contagious XBB.1.5 variant, and health officials are watching the variant closely. Sidelinger says while this variant is the most transmissible so far, at this time there is no evidence it is associated with more severe infection, so health officials see no significant cause of concern. Sidelinger added bivalent boosters do provide protection against this sub-variant and others.
MCMC Emergency Room Remains Busy
The emergency room remains busy at Mid-Columbia Medical Center in The Dalles. MCMC Emergency Services Director Rhianna Hurf says the metro area’s capacity and staffing issues trickle down to the local area. She notes we have an aging population that is getting sicker, so they are seeing more patients leading to longer wait times in the ER. MCMC Emergency Services Nurse Manager Dawn Opbreck says staffing shortages at numerous level of medical care are also having an impact. That backs up patient volumes in the hospital, which leads to ER patients needing admittance to the hospital facing delays in getting a bed.
Exclusion Date Is February 15
February 15 is the deadline for school children to be up to date in Oregon on required vaccinations. Daron Ryan of the Hood River County Health Department says letters will go out to families at the start of February, but she encourages people not to wait to ensure their children are not excluded from classes after February 15. Ryan says there are no new vaccinations this year on the list required for attendance at Oregon public schools, but letters sent to parents will outline which vaccinations a child needs.
Hood River Rotary Ski Night Monday At Meadows
Hood River Rotary Club will hold its annual ski night at Mount Hood Meadows on Monday. It’s an annual event that Club President Tanner Hall says benefits a wide range of charitable activities the club undertakes, including providing dictionaries to Hood River County School District fifth graders. Rotary provides scholarships to local students, built the Hood River Skate Park, helps FISH Food Bank, and is involved in other projects. Ski Night is from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday. To get tickets, go to skihood.com.
January 11 Prep Sports Roundup
Boys Basketball
Horizon Christian 64, Lyle-Wishram 46
Girls Basketball
Columbia 54, Stevenson 32
Horizon Christian 38, Lyle-Wishram 18
Wrestling
Wilsonville 37, Hood River Valley 31: Connor Tennant had the lone win by fall for HRV, as the Wildcats pulled out a close win. In girls’ matches, Lauraine Smith and Karol Najera had wins by fall for the Eagles.
Port of HR To Ask City For Single Property URA For Lot 1
The Port of Hood River Commission has authorized approaching the City about establishing a formation of a single-property Urban Renewal District for Development of Waterfront Lot 1. That would allow the City to close out the current 109-acre Waterfront Urban Renewal District, while the Lot 1 URA would only be nine acres in size. Consultant Elaine Howard told the Commission she feels it’s the best solution available to allow the Port to move forward on public improvements for the property west of the Nichols Basin. If the City agrees to the single-property district, it would generate $1.7 million in tax increment financing over ten years to pay off Lot 1 project costs the Port would incur upfront. The city would be able to use the majority of the current Waterfront acreage for a potential new urban renewal area on the West Side.
HR Health Department Website Revamped
The Hood River County Health Department’s website has been revamped. The department’s Daron Ryan says they have been adding content, and will be continue to do so. It includes information on all of the services the department provides. The site can be accessed at the main Hood River County website…hoodrivercounty.gov…by using the drop down departments menu and clicking on Health Department.