Oregon Class 4A Soccer Playoffs

Round 1

LaGrande 7, The Dalles 1

  Washington District 4 Class 1A Volleyball Tournament

Round 1:  Hoquiam def. Stevenson 3-0

Round 2:  Stevenson def. Elma 3-0:  Stevenson will play Montesano on Saturday at 10 a.m. at King’s Way Christian.

  Washington District 5 Class 2B Volleyball Tournament

Round 2:  Goldendale def. Walla Walla Valley Academy 25-15, 25-2, 25-13: The Timberwolves clinch a state tournament berth, and will take on Tri-Cities Prep tonight at 7 p.m. in Burbank for the district championship.

 

The Mayor of Rufus has been taken into custody on attempted murder charges following a Monday night shooting near Parkdale.  The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office says 47-year-old Dowen Jones was lodged at NORCOR after being taken into custody by Sherman County Sheriff’s deputies.  The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office says a family of four was traveling south on Highway 281 at around 8:43 p.m. Monday, following a SUV  that was driving erratically.  Upon reaching the 6000 block of Highway 281, the SUV pulled over abruptly, and as the family slowed to get a description of the suspect vehicle for the purpose of reporting it to the Sheriff’s Office, a man stepped out of the SUV and fire multiple rounds from a handgun, damaging the family’s vehicle.  No one was injured as a result.  Jones was lodged at NORCOR on one count of attempted murder and four counts of attempted assault in the first degree.  He was to be arraigned on Wednesday morning in Hood River County Circuit Court.

The rate of ballot return for this year’s general election is running behind that of the 2018 mid-term vote.  Wasco County reports as of the end of Tuesday that 24.06 percent of ballots have been returned, 4,486 in total.  Four years ago the return rate was 28.56 percent with 4,874 having been submitted with one week remaining.  Hood River County reports it had received 25.73 percent of ballots as of end of Tuesday, with 4,179 having been received.  That compares with a 2018 turnout rate at the same time of 31.34 percent, with 4,598 ballots received.  One factor may be a change in Oregon’s mail-in election procedures this year.  In 2018 ballots had to be returned to county election offices or designated drop boxes by 8 p.m. Election Night, whereas now ballots only must be postmarked by Election Day.

Tuesday

Washington District 5 Class 2B Volleyball Tournament

Round 1

Goldendale def. Warden 25-14, 25-18, 25-21:  The Timberwolves advance to play Walla Walla Valley Academy today at 5 p.m. in Burbank.

  Washington District 5 Class 2B Girls Soccer Tournament

Round 1

Cle Elum-Roslyn 6, Goldendale 0

 

Registration for the Hood River County Christmas Project is underway.  The annual holiday effort to help families in need provided a food box, local grocery gift card, and toys or gift cards for children and teens in the family.  Registration is being taken online at hoodrivercountychristmasproject.com through November 30.  For help in registering, call 541-329-0901 or email info@hoodrivercountychristmasproject.com.  To be eligible, individuals and families must live in Hood River County and meet state of Oregon low income eligibility standards.  Family size is based on the number of adults and children living in the home.  Christmas Project registration does not interfere with SNAP and FISH benefits or legal status.

North Central Public Health District will hold a free walk-in COVID-19 vaccine clinic this Thursday through Saturday in the former Griffith Motors building on 523 East 3rd in The Dalles.  Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. all three days.  No appointment, insurance, or ID is needed.  The clinic will have all four brands of COVID-19 vaccine available, which are Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and Novovax.  Primary and booster doses will be available.  The JYNNEOS monkeypox vaccine will also be available.  For more information, call NCPHD at 541-506-2000.

The theme of Hood River’s annual Veterans Day ceremony next Friday will honor Japanese American veterans and make amends and reconcile past actions.  Hood River American Legion Post 22 Commander Carl Casey will address past discrimination, including the actions of Post members on November 29, 1944 when they went to the County Courthouse and blacked out from plaques honoring local service members the names of sixteen men of Japanese descent that were at the time fighting for the United States overseas.  Casey said in a statement this will be a time for Post 22 to acknowledge their past role, apologize for their actions, and express a desire to be leaders in accepting all veterans and people in Hood River by presenting new Post resolutions rescinding past wrongs and promising a united future.  Gary Akiyama, whose father George fought in World War II, will share his father’s military history and discuss prejudices and discrimination he experienced.  The ceremony will be November 11 at 11 a.m. at Anderson Tribute Center in Hood River.

The annual Ageless Awards saluting older adults who make large contributions to the community will be presented on November 18 at Mid-Columbia Senior Center in The Dalles.  The Senior Center and Age+ present the awards.  This year’s honorees are Tom Graff, Al Wynn, Karl Vercouteren, and Jim and Kathy Heitkemper.  Senior Center executive director Rob Garrett says the group is reflective of what older residents are doing around the region.  The Ageless Awards will be presented on November 18 at 2 p.m. at Mid-Columbia Senior Center on 1112 West 9th in The Dalles.

The Dalles Community Development Department has approved the application from Whiting-Turner and Design, LLC to build Google’s latest data center on former aluminum plant property on River Road.  The administrative approval does call for a detailed site plan, construction/design plan, and landscape plan to be approved by the Community Development Department director and the City Engineer.  The proposed building would be a single story 288,350 square foot data center, with a separate office building and associated infrastructure.  There is a ten-day appeal period running through November 10.

The Hood River County Prevention Department is participating in Future Oregon, a program established by the Legislature to advance job opportunities for underserved communities.  The Department’s Kathy Smith says the grant Hood River County received is targeted towards adults age 18 to 24, with a job coach to connect participants with employers and work with them to provide support.  The department is partnering with the Youth Compass program of Columbia Gorge Community College in this effort.  Those who would like information on the program can call 541-387-6890.