Anglers will be able to retain sturgeon in the Columbia River from The Dalles Dam to John Day Dam only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays starting January 1 when the new season kicks off at the start of the year.  The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says a 12-day recreational season will run three days a week until January 26 or the quota of 190 sturgeon is met.  Managers are adjusting the season due to early closures that have occurred the last few years.  Under permanent regulations, sturgeon retention opens in The Dalles, Bonneville and John Day pools January 1 and is open every day until the quota is met.  But retention seasons in two of the past five years lasted less than one week and in three of the past five years, less than one month in The Dalles Pool.  Last year’s season lasted just four days, likely due to good weather and the season opening on a three-day holiday weekend, and exceeded harvest guidelines.  The ODFW says the new staggered season days will provide sufficient time for staff to monitor catches in The Dalles Pool fishery and take action to stay within harvest guidelines.  If harvest is lower than projected, additional retention days may be considered.  Sturgeon retention seasons in Bonneville and John Day Pools remain as set in permanent regulations, open every day beginning January 1 until quota is met.

A search is continuing for a missing Boardman woman near Condon.  According to the Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office, 22-year-old Autumn Jones left her family’s residence in Morrow County on November 27 to go for a drive.  Around 1:30 the next morning, Jones called her family and stated she was lost.  Using a cell phone application, her family placed Jones in Wheeler County, but an initial search did not locate her.  On November 29, a mail carrier reported seeing Jones’ car, a red 2014 Volkswagen Jetta, near Fossil, but search teams could not find Jones or the car.  On December 15, hunters found Jones’ unoccupied vehicle in a canyon near Condon.  Autumn Jones is 5 feet, 10 inches tall, has blue eyes, medium-length brown hair, and weighs about 300 pounds.  She was last seen wearing a black Riverside T-shirt, black sweatshirt, black tennis shoes and possibly a black Carhartt coat.  If you have seen Jones, her car, or have other information about her disappearance, you are asked to contact the Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office at 541-351-9530.

Data from the Oregon Health Authority shows just 26% of kids ages 5-11 have received their first vaccine dose, and in the North Central Public Health District the numbers are lower.  Wasco County is at 16%, Sherman County 7.8%, and Gilliam County 6.2%.  North Central Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell says those who were certain they wanted their child vaccinated got it done quickly, but many parents have had questions about it.  Hood River County’s vaccination rate for children age 5 to 11 is above the statewide rate at 35%.

The Hood River Police Department has again seized a large amount of fentanyl after a traffic stop. According to a Facebook post on Wednesday, an officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle occupied by a man and a woman. During the investigation in excess of 10,000 fentanyl-laced pills were seized, along with three ounces of methamphetamine and two ounces of heroin. The police statement said that at roughly $20 per pill, the estimated street value of the seized fentanyl is around $200,000.

Boys Basketball

Hood River Valley 82, Milwaukie 71:  The Eagles made 16 three-pointers on the way to the victory.  Emanuel Romero scored 25 points and Tommy Ziegler 19 to lead HRV.  Logan Law tallied 23 for the Mustangs.

The Dalles 80, Centennial 75

South Wasco 83, Dayville-Monument 18

Sherman 67, Damascus Christian 53

Cle Elum-Roslyn 88, Goldendale 55

  Girls Basketball

Woodburn 55, Hood River Valley 34

Damascus Christian 54, Sherman 20

Stevenson 50, Lyle-Wishram 14

Goldendale 54, Cle Elum-Roslyn 23

The Dalles City Council reached consensus to have staff bring back an ordinance allowing shelter housing facilities in both general commercial and commercial light industrial zones to the panel’s January 10 meeting.  Councilors decided to remove a clause recommended by the municipal planning commission calling for projects in the general commercial zone to be subjected to receiving a conditional use permit.  Kenny LaPoint of Mid-Columbia Community Action, which is working on developing a navigation center for the homeless that would include a shelter, said the CUP requirement could cause delays and risk funding losses.  Councilors also decided to remove language calling for bathing facilities, noting state law already has provisions for those in place.

The Dalles City Council held another chapter in the long-running discussion on the future of the Gitchell-Waldron Building, the oldest existing commercial building in the city.  Mayor Rich Mays had asked for it to be placed on the agenda, noting the subject has been on-going for years.  Eric Gleason, representing the group that has been advocating for its preservation, once again said there is a path forward to reuse the building and make it a vibrant part of the community.  The Council reached consensus to give interim City Manager Daniel Hunter the authority to get an evaluation done, probably involving KPFF, the firm that did a similar study in 2015.

The Hood River County School District is preparing for forecasted winter weather Wednesday morning.  Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn outlines the factors involved in determining whether to simply delay school or cancel outright, which mainly is whether the roads are clear enough to run the buses and what the weather is projected to do through the day.  Polkinghorn noted the district’s buses are built for rugged weather, and chains can be placed on all of them.  Some of them have drop down chains built in.

Washington Gorge Action Programs WAGAP warming shelter services are officially open as of Monday and will include extended service during Hazardous Weather Events as they arise over the winter.  WAGAP officials say the program will operate differently this year, moving to a lodging facilities model rather than having one physical location.  WAGAP’s warming shelter phone line will be staffed daily from 3 to 6 p.m. at 509-281-1129, but clients must arrive in person each day to receive services.   For clients in Skamania County, registration must occur daily from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the WAGAP office at 683 Rock Creek Drive in Stevenson.  A one-night lodging voucher will be provided for redemption that evening at a local participating facility.  The next day’s check-out time will be according to each facility’s check-out policy.  For clients in Klickitat County, call the WAGAP Warming Shelter phone line at 509-281-1129 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. each day to receive a referral to services that may be provided through Klickitat or Hood River County lodging facilities.  

Boys Basketball

Corbett 68, Columbia 52

  Girls Basketball

Dayton 41, The Dalles 39

Corbett 71, Columbia 30