Oregon 52nd District State Representative Anna Williams says talks Wednesday to find some kind of legislative solution to the debate over agricultural industry overtime broke up without any agreement.  Albany Republican Shelly Boshart Davis plan proposing a $50 million grant of state money to essential farmworkers that would have proposed overtime pay at 48 hours, going up to 55 during a limited harvest period, and a similar version by Williams, a Hood River Democrat, did not gain traction.  If a legislative solution cannot be reached, it will be up to the Bureau of Labor and Industries to create ag overtime rules.  

Hood River County Commissioners reviewed PacificCorp’s 2022 Wildfire Protection Plan, and were happy with the work that has been done to harden the utility’s system, but also concerned with how support for communities during a public safety power shut-off would be implemented.  Commissioner Les Perkins said the work that has been done on the system has been extraordinary in the last year, and feels the plan is solid, but the communication plan and how community resource centers would be set up during a power shutoff is where he has questions.  Commissioners will draft a letter with their concerns…but also pointing out the elements of the plan they are pleased with.

The Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge will be closed to all vehicle traffic beginning at midnight through 5:00 a.m. Friday as Port of Hood River crews make required repairs to the bridge’s lift span rocker bearing.  The rocker bearing is a structural support of the bridge’s lift span when it is in the down position.  During the closure, access to the bridge will be closed at the signaled intersection Highway 30 and E. Port Marina Drive in Oregon and at the Washington Highway 14 bridge onramp just west of Bingen.  Access will be provided only for emergency vehicles conducting emergency response or transport.

After reviewing stock status and a slightly improved upriver spring Chinook forecast from last year’s actual return, fishery managers from Oregon and Washington adopted recreational spring Chinook salmon and steelhead seasons for the Columbia River during a joint state hearing Wednesday. Downstream of Bonneville Dam, the season will run from this coming Tuesday to April 6, with a bag limit of two adult hatchery Chinook or steelhead per day, but only one can be a Chinook. From Bonneville Dam to the Oregon/Washington border, the season will be from April 1 to May 5, with the same bag limit. Fishery performance will be monitored in-season. A mid-run update is expected in May and spring Chinook fishing opportunity may be added if run size and impacts allow. Several 2022 spring Chinook indicators are improved over 2021.

Boys Basketball

Crook County 72, The Dalles 51:  In spite of the loss dropping the Riverhawks into a tie for third with the Cowboys in the Intermountain Conference, The Dalles still advances to the Oregon Class 5A boys’ basketball playoffs on a tiebreaker.

  Girls Basketball

Crook County 51, The Dalles 28

  Oregon Class 1A Girls Basketball Playoffs

First Round

Trout Lake 45, Powder Valley 34:  The Mustangs jumped out to a 20-8 lead in the first quarter, led by 16 at halftime, and held off the Badgers from there.  Wynsome Painter scored 16 points to lead Trout Lake.  The Mustangs go to St. Paul for a second round game on Saturday.

 

A drug trafficker known to frequent Hood River and other communities in the Columbia River Gorge, was sentenced to federal prison Tuesday after fleeing a traffic stop at nearly 120 mph, crashing his vehicle, and being found in possession of methamphetamine, heroin, and two firearms.  Jonathen Michael Martinez, 42-years-old and most recently a Portland resident, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.  According to court documents, on January 25, 2019, a Hood River Police officer observed Martinez driving through Hood River, recognizing Martinez from previous contacts and aware he had an outstanding arrest warrant.  When the officer initiated a traffic stop, Martinez fled eastbound on Interstate 84 at nearly 120 mph.  Martinez exited the highway, lost control of his vehicle, crashed, and briefly fled on foot before surrendering.  His vehicle was found to contain more than 600 grams of methamphetamine, 30 grams of heroin, and two firearms.  At the time of his arrest, Martinez was on probation for a state drug trafficking conviction.  He has 23 prior criminal convictions for various drug, weapon, theft, and assault offenses as well as several for resisting, eluding, and obstructing officers during previous encounters with law enforcement.

Hood River County Commissioners continued considering how to use the County’s American Rescue Plan Act allotment, and have decided some will go towards helping to deal with the lack of child care in the County.  The County will be receiving a total of $4.53 million in federal funds.  County Commission Chair Mike Oates says they are looking at working with Columbia Gorge Community College to get more people interested in a career in child care and Early Childhood Education, noting the lack of child care in the region is preventing some people from going to work.  Earlier Commissioners prioritized using the federal dollars in four broad categories:  ending the pandemic and accomplishing maximum immunity within the county, continuing County services, assisting in economic recovery, and retooling to deal with new economic realities.

A proposed supplemental capital budget in the Washington House includes $6.3 million dollars in projects for the 14th Legislative District.  Goldendale Republican Gina Mosbrucker is a member of the House Capital Budget Committee.  She says one of the allocations would be $1 million to build a new behavioral and substance abuse health facility for Comprehensive Health Care in Goldendale.  The proposed capital budget also includes $670,000 for a new Klickitat County animal shelter in Goldendale.

Washington Gorge Action Programs is preparing to change its Lyle Food Pantry into a mobile operation.  The Lyle Food Pantry was established at the start of the pandemic, but usage declined after schools resumed in-person learning to the point where the numbers don’t support keeping it open.  WAGAP’s Leslie Naramore says they received a Washington Department of Agriculture grant to purchase a refrigerated truck that will be refurbished to allow it deliver food on a periodic basis to Lyle and other smaller communities in Klickitat and Skamania counties.  WAGAP will hold a community discussion on the mobile food pantry plan on March 9 at 7 p.m. at the Lyle Activity Center.

The Dalles Middle School principal Sandra Harris will become North Wasco County School District 21’s Human Resources Director.  Harris has held a number of positions over the course of her career including middle school teacher, Dean of Students, principal and administrator.  Among her new duties, Harris will be responsible for recruitment, training and employee development, labor relations, teacher licensing and contract management.  She will also serve as the Title IX director and Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator for the district.  Harris has been principal at The Dalles Middle School since 2015.