A number of agency partners, including Hood River County Emergency Management and the Oregon State University Extension Service, have come out with a new publication called “Before Wildfire Strikes.” It’s a guide to improving wildfire preparedness and living with fire in Hood River County. County Emergency Management Director Charles Young says it lists actions citizens can take regardless of whether they live in a rural or urban setting. Along with tips for preparing your home and property to withstand fire, the publication also includes a checklist of what you should prepare in case of the need to evacuate. “Before Wildfire Strikes” is available at fire stations and city and county buildings, and online at most county fire department websites.
Columbia Gateway URA Incentive Program Gets Update
The Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency has updated its incentive program for development in the downtown core. The revised program will now offer up to $300,000 per property in matching funds for eligible projects to use on interior upgrades, safety and code compliance, and mixed-use redevelopment. City of The Dalles Economic Development Officer Jacob Anderson says the maximum has gone up from $50,000. There are new incentives to support housing development downtown, and a streamlined approval process for smaller projects. Application information is available at thedalles.org.
Ground Broken For Mariposa Village
Community leaders took part Friday in the groundbreaking for Mariposa Village, the largest affordable rental housing project in Hood River since 2011. The 130-unit development is at 780 Rand Road. Community Development Partners and Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation are co-developers of Mariposa Village, on land donated by the City of Hood River. Scheduled to open in two phases starting in summer 2026, Mariposa Village will serve households earning up to 60 percent of the area median income (AMI), which for a four-person household in Hood River County is $64,140. Of the 130 apartments, 39 come with federal housing vouchers that will enable them to serve residents with incomes up to 60 percent of AMI. The seven-acre site will feature seven buildings with studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments and townhomes, amid trees and green space. Mariposa Village will also include a public park with a playground, walking paths and landscape design that protects on-site wetlands, along with the extension of two trails that connect to the city’s trail network.
May 30-31 Prep Sports Roundup
A victory by Julian Morehouse in the pole vault led The Dalles to a tie for fourth in the Oregon Class 4A boys’ track and field championships. Morehouse cleared 14’ 7 ½” to score the win. The Riverhawks’ River McClure was second in the 300 meter hurdles, Tyson Long took second in the 800, Derek Goulart fourth in the high jump, the four by 100 meter relay team was fourth, and David McCracken fifth in the 200 and seventh in the 100. For the Riverhawk girls, Willow Ziegenhagen was fifth in the high jump, Alana Casady sixth in the 3,000 meters, and the four by 400 meter relay squad was sixth.
Savina Davis led the Hood River Valley effort in the Oregon Class 5A track and field championships with a third place finish in the girls’ 800 meters. Sylvaine Farr was fifth in the girls’ pole vault, Jack Miller sixth in the boys’ javelin, and HRV received eighth place finishes from Logan King in the boys’ 3000 meters, Syl Perrin in the girls’ 3000, and Francisco Solberg in the boys’ pole vault.
Melody Stock won the girls’ 1500 meters to lead Trout Lake to a fourth place finish at the Oregon Class 1A track and field championships in Eugene. Stock set a classification record with the win, with a time of 4:51.26. The Mustangs’ Violette Anderson was third in the shot put and seventh in the 100 meter hurdles, Cora Sharp was seventh in the 100 meters, with the four by 400 meter relay team taking fourth and the four by 100 relay finishing seventh. Horizon Christian was seventh in the boys’ competition, with Charlie Haynie taking third in both the 110 and 300 hurdles, the four by 400 meter relay team taking sixth, the four by 100 relay squad in seventh, and Landon Whitaker finishing seventh in the boys’ long jump. In addition, the Hawks’ Hannah Adams was third in the girls’ 100 hurdles. South Wasco had a number of placing finishes on the final day of the meet, including Jayda Iverson second in the girls’ 800 and sixth in the 400, Bailey Udey was fifth in the girls’ long jump, and Storm McCoy seventh in the boys’ javelin. Sherman’s T’Sharra Lanthorn was sixth in the girls’ 800 and Michael Blagg eighth in the boys 800. Lyle-Wishram’s Ezekiel Marble took fifth in the boys’ 110 hurdles and seventh in the 300 hurdles, and Dufur’s Ellie Brock was fourth in the girls 400.
Goldendale’s Matthew Gray won the boys’ 200 meters at the Washington Class 2B track and field championships in Yakima. He took the title in a time of 22.04 seconds. He also finished third in the 100 metes and fourth in the long jump. Teammate Seth Wilder was sixth in the shot put.
In the Washington Class 1A track and field championships, Columbia’s Saylor Hague was second in the girls’ 300 meter hurdles and added a seventh place finish in the high jump. Samantha Evans of CHS was second in the girls’ high jump, while Gavin Clifford of CHS was second in the boys’ ambulatory 200 meters and third in the ambulatory 100. Stevenson’s Olivia Fauth was seventh in the girls’ long jump.
Washington Class 1A Boys Soccer at Federal Way
Semi-Final: The Bush School 1, Columbia 0
Third Place: King’s Way Christian 4, Columbia 2
ODF Starting Fire Season On Monday
The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District is declaring the beginning of fire season on Monday morning (June 2) at 12:01 a.m. Starting Monday, the district’s fire danger level will be “Moderate”, and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level will be I in Hood River and Wasco counties. A decline in spring rain, rise in temperatures, and windy conditions, have led to fine fuels in the district drying significantly. Moderate fire danger level prohibits debris burning including piles and burn barrels, exploding targets and tracer ammunition, or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base. There is also no smoking while traveling through or working in any operation area. ODF says so far this year, the district has experienced 16 fires, of which half were escaped debris burns. Debris burning is the number one cause of human-caused fires in Oregon.
May 29 Prep Sports Roundup
Trout Lake’s Sawyer Dean won the boys’ pole vault on the first day of the Oregon Class 1A Track and Field Championships at Eugene’s Hayward Field. Dean cleared a height of 15’ 6 ¼”. It was a strong day for the Mustangs, as Melody Stock finished second in the girls’ 3000 meters, Jayden Kusky fourth in the boys’ shot put, and Violette Anderson eighth in the girls’ high jump. South Wasco’s Bailey Udey was second in the girls’ triple jump, Sherman Renan Christiansen third in the boys’ shot put, and Horizon Christian’s Caleb Caldwell fourth in the boys’ 3000 meters. Horizon’s Bella Sperry was fifth and Hannah Adams sixth in the girls’ high jump, and Lyle-Wishram’s Jack Thiemann finished seventh in the boys’ triple jump. The meet concludes today.
Columbia’s Saylor Hague advance to the Class 1A girls’ 300 meter hurdles by finishing fourth in the preliminaries at the Washington high school track and field championships in Yakima. Goldendale’s Matthew Gray did the same in the Class 2B boys’ 100 meters with a fourth place effort in the preliminary. Emma Meagher of Goldendale was 15th in the 2B girls’ 1600 meters, while Lilah Zimmerman of CHS was 16th in the 1A girls’ 1600 meters. Day two of the three day meet is today.
Brush Fire Near Mosier Burns 2 1/2 Acres
A brush fire reported in the 300 block of Cherry Hill Drive in Mosier on Wednesday afternoon burned approximately two-and-a-half acres. Wasco County Public Information Officer Stephanie Krell says the fire was reported at 3:45 Wednesday afternoon, and led to some Level 3 and Level 2 evacuation advisories for residences in the immediate area of the fire. The fire was contained and went into mop-up within a couple of hours. Fire and law enforcement crews were deployed to the area from Mosier Fire, Mid-Columbia Fire Rescue, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon Department of Forestry, Wy’East Volunteer Fire and EMS Association, Wasco County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police. No structures were lost due to the fire and the cause is under investigation.
Zaragosa Sentenced To 25 Years For Boyer Killing
Noe Zaragoza, Jr. was sentenced in Wasco County Circuit Court on Tuesday to 25 years in prison on charges connected to the killing of Michael Boyer at a convenience store in The Dalles in June of last year. Zaragoza received the sentence as part of an agreement where he plead guilty to first degree manslaughter, third degree assault, and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon. Wasco County District Attorney Kara Davis said the sentence is the equivalent to a life sentence in Oregon, adding the settlement was reached after a day-long conference overseen by Judge John Olson and involving both Boyer’s widow and mother. Davis says the family was concerned the defense strategy at trial would be attack Boyer and his wife, adding that belief was not unfounded and she felt it was important to not re-traumatize the family with a trial, while at same time it was important to her that Zaragoza receive a murder-length sentence.
Dexter Visits Hood River Council
Oregon Third District Congresswoman Maxine Dexter paid a visit to the Hood River City Council this week. Dexter didn’t make a presentation on any one topic, choosing instead to take questions from Councilors. The Portland Democrat told the Council people are finding it difficult to trust in government and the people elected to serve them, particularly at the national level. She hopes that can be rebuilt in our communities. Dexter says the most durable policy is bipartisan, but in the current climate that’s not happening.
Klickitat County Commission Approves Increase In Dallesport Sewer SDC
Klickitat County Commissioners approved an increase in systems development charges for the Dallesport Wastewater System. The new SDC was set at $5,891, with a $100 application fee. That’s a jump from $4,602 and a $25 application fee. Commissioner Ron Ihrig points out in the past the SDC had been increased when monthly service rates were increased, but that had not happened in the last three years. Ihrig would like to see the County put together a five-year plan for the Dallesport sewer plant taking into account capital maintenance needs. The Commission also approved a 6% monthly rate increase for Dallesport sewer customers.