Gorge Pitchfest 2025 will be held on Thursday, May 29, at the Granada Theatre in The Dalles. The Mid-Columbia Economic Development District’s Mid-Columbia Innovation Hub puts on the event, now in its third year. MCEDD’s Jakob Lillvik says five finalists have been selected from about 30 applicants to pitch their startup business growth plans to a panel of investors and business leaders, competing for $21,000 in awards. Admission to PitchFest is free. It begins at 5:30 p.m. May 29 at the Granada Theatre. For more information and to RSVP go to mcedd.org.
More Chinook Fishing Days
With upriver spring Chinook return on track to come in higher than originally forecast, fishery managers from Oregon and Washington added more recreational spring Chinook fishing days on the mainstem Columbia during a joint state hearing. The expected upriver-origin adult spring Chinook return has been increased from 122,500 fish to 155,500. As of Sunday, a total of 102,025 adult spring Chinook have passed Bonneville Dam, which is greater than the recent 10- and 5-year averages. Anglers downstream of Bonneville Dam had their season extended through June 12, while upriver anglers will see an additional 25 spring Chinook fishing days, with retention open from Thursday to June 15 between Bonneville Dam and the Oregon-Washington state line upstream of McNary Dam. The daily adult bag limit is two adult hatchery Chinook or steelhead per day, but only one may be a Chinook.
One Injured In Highway 14 Accident
One person was injured in a two-vehicle accident involving a Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office vehicle on Wednesday morning. According to the Washington State Patrol, the utility vehicle driven by 30-year-old deputy Keifer Smtih was traveling westbound on Highway 14 near Murdock just before 9:45 in the morning with lights and siren activated. While passing a pickup in the eastbound lane, the pickup tried to make a left turn into a private driveway, leading to a collision. The WSP says 37-year-old pickup driver Celso Arellano Diaz was taken to Skyline Hospital in White Salmon for treatment of his injuries. Smith and two passengers in the pickup were not injured. The Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office says Smith was responding to an emergency missing child call.
Interstate Bridge In Washington Transportation Package
The transportation package in Washington signed by Governor Bob Ferguson commits $50 million towards building the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge. It calls for $10 million in project funding to the ’25-’27 biennium and $40 million in ’27-’29, building on the $75 million the state approved in 2023 and bringing its total commitment to $125 million. With the Washington legislative session concluded, Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority commissioners and project supporters are urging Oregon legislators to follow through on additional funding this legislative session. Co-sponsored by Senator Daniel Bonham and Representative Jeff Helfrich, Oregon House Bill 2184 would allocate $105 million to the project, matching Washington’s commitment. The bill has passed the Joint Committee on Transportation and awaits consideration in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.
Klickitat County Commission Approves Dallesport Wastewater Rates
Klickitat County Commissioners approved a six percent increase for Dallesport Wastewater System monthly rates, but will get more information from Public Works staff before setting new rates for Systems Development Charges. Commission Chair Ron Ihrig says he would like to consider the rates while looking ahead five years to provide an opportunity to plan for what is needed down the road to pay for the system and its operation. He adds new development should pay their fair share of the costs. The Commission will discuss the SDC charges at their meeting on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in their chambers in Goldendale. In other business, the Commission approved the operations permit for the Under Canvas glamping resort in Husum, with County Planning Director Scott Edelman saying all conditions had been met. And Valerie Fowler was reappointed as Klickitat County’s representative on the Columbia River Gorge Commission.
Idaho Man Dies In I-84 Truck Accident
A Twin Falls, Idaho man was killed in a commercial truck and trailer crash early Tuesday morning on Interstate 84 in Gilliam County. According to the Oregon State Police, a preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Freightliner commercial motor vehicle and trailer operated by 47-year-old Adam Hassan Ahmen Haroun left the roadway on I-84 at milepost 148 and struck a bridge pillar before catching fire. Haroun was declared deceased at the scene. The freeway was impacted for about 11 hours during the on-scene investigation. The accident occurred at about 3:45 Tuesday morning.
May 20 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Hood River Valley 11, Hillsboro 1: Kington McAdam went 3 for 4 and drove in two runs as the Eagles clinched a spot in the Oregon Class 5A playoffs next week. The Eagles scored seven runs in the third inning to blow the game open.
Softball
Hood River Valley 9, Hillsboro 6: Kenadie Lucas, Isa Rivera, and Bella Belcher drove in two runs apiece for HRV. All three knocked home runs the three-run fifth inning that broke a 6-6 tie.
Boys Golf
John Olsen finished 15th to lead the Hood River Valley contingent at the Oregon Class 5A tournament at the Oregon Golf Association Course in Woodburn. Aksel Betz finished in a tie for 19th, and David Shepherd was 35th.
Girls Golf
Tygh Timinsky shot a final round 76 to move up to a tie for sixth at the Oregon Class 4A/3A/2A/1A tournament at Trysting Tree Golf Club in Corvallis.
Hood River Valley’s Kristin Fox was 26th and Rayla Yasui 51st at the Oregon Class 5A tournament at Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell.
Special District Election Returns as of May 20, 11:45 p.m.
Hood River County Election Returns
Update next Wednesday
Port of Hood River Commission Pos. 2
Heather Gehring 1,641
Michael McElwee 1,378
Port of Hood River Commission Pos. 3
Kathryn Thomas 2,530
Karen Ford 872
Hood River County School District Board At-Large
Monica Romero 2,132
Mark Bauman 855
Dan Goldstein 587
Hood River County Library District (Vote for 3)
Sara Marsden 2,567
Karen Bureker 2,151
Megan Janik 2,149
Yesi Rojas 1,456
Pamela Tyler-Kroon 724
Wasco County Election Returns
Update Friday
North Wasco County School District 21 Board Zone 4
David Polehn 194
John Nelson 160
North Wasco County School District 21 Board Zone 5
Kevin Kramer 333
Shannon Wilkinson 119
North Wasco County School District 21 Board Zone 7
Katie Kelley 331
Steve Lawrence 230
Dufur School Board Pos. 1
Anne Kelly 278
Tina Coleman 220
Dufur School Board Pos. 3
Sean Egeland 298
Stan Ashbrook 236
Dufur School Board Pos. 4
Dave Beeson 252
Joseph Harvey 244
South Wasco County School Board Zone 3
Nancy Salas Juarez 295
Paul Koerschgen 217
South Wasco County School Board Zone 4
Shelly Cocco 251
Greg Wiedeman 226
South Wasco County School Board Zone 6
Kevin Duling 359
Elizabeth Unti 230
Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue District Pos. 2
Mike Erland 1,446
Corey Case 1,044
Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue District Pos. 4
Chris Schanno 1,439
David Jacobs 1,092
Juniper Flat RFD Pos. 5
Brian Silvey 63
Casey Ford 19
Semi-Truck Totaled In Highway 97 Accident
A semi-truck and trailer was totaled in an accident Monday morning on Highway 97 near Maryhill. According to the Washington State Patrol, the semi driven by a 34-year-old man from Fresno, California was traveling northbound on Highway 97 at milepost 1 just after 8:15 Monday morning when it failed to negotiate a curve, struck the guardrail, traveled down the embankment, and came to rest on Maryhill Highway. A car going north on Highway 97, driven by a 39-year-old Goldendale woman, struck debris in the roadway. The WSP says the truck driver was injured but not transported for medical attention, and was charged with second degree negligent driving. The woman driving the car was not injured.
Port of HR Sending T-Hangar Project To Bill
The Port of Hood River plans to send out to a bid a project that will construct ten new T-hangars at the Ken Jernstedt Airfield. Port Executive Director Kevin Greenwood says having the new hangars available for lease is a big step toward moving airport operations toward break even. The project is also slated to include a turf taxiline and other improvements. Greenwood says extra net income realized at the airport has to be used for that facility. This is a part of a list of moves being considered by the Port to develop increased revenue options. Greenwood says jumpstarting discussions on how to use Waterfront Lot 1 is another possibility.