A meeting Monday night was held in The Dalles on the potential for contaminated soils from the Portland Harbor Superfund Site to be delivered to the Wasco County Landfill. The group Neighbors for Clean Air held the meeting, and one of the attendees was Wasco County Commissioner Jeff Justesen. Justesen notes by Department of Environmental Quality standards, the Wasco County Landfill could handle the spoils, but he adds safety also has to be considered, particularly in regard to the roadway into the landfill. Waste Connections owns the Wasco County Landfill, and Justesen notes they have been great partners to the County. He also says it is possible the County could make money by accepting the sediment, but the impact to the community has to be considered. Justesen also noted much of this is speculative at this point, but the County is evaluating what its options would be should this progress further.
Newhouse “Build More Hydro” Bill Signed Into Law
Washington Fourth District Congressman Dan Newhouse’s “Build More Hydro” bill has been signed into law by President Donald Trump. It allows the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve six-year extensions for hydropower projects licensed before 2020. Newhouse says the Build More Hydro bill would extend commence construction deadlines for hydropower projects nationwide and increase American energy production. Newhouse adds since the introduction of his bill and a companion bill by Montana Senator Steve Daines approximately 100 megawatts of hydropower has been put on hold with an additional 36 megawatts forced into limbo by the end of the year because of congressional inaction. Hydropower supplies baseload electricity to over 30 million homes, provides 96% of utility-scale energy storage, and is important for flood control, water storage, irrigation, and grid reliability services.
Ballot Returns Jump Over The Weekend
Ballot return counts for the May 19 primary election jumped over the weekend. The Hood River County Assessment, Records, and Election Department reports as of the end of Monday just over 16 percent of ballots have been returned: 2,676. That’s up by 222 ballots from two years ago and 639 from 2022. In Wasco County, the Clerk’s office says on Monday 13.27 percent of ballots had been received: 2,537. It’s an increase of 49 from 2024, and 268 from four years ago. Ballots that are mailed must be postmarked by Election Day and received within seven days. U.S. Postal Service delivery times may vary, so local election officials advise you to return your ballot early. If you’re returning your ballot by mail within 7 days before the election, ask a USPS staff member to postmark the ballot by hand at your local branch or better yet drop their ballot in an official drop box. In addition, Wasco County officials will do public test of its tabulation equipment at 3 p.m. this afternoon.
May 11 Prep Sports Roundup
Tennis
Hood River Valley at Northwest Oregon Conference Tournament First Round
Girls Singles
(1) Kaylen Mitchell def. Greta Dazer, LaSalle 6-0, 6-1
(5) Zoe Aiken def. Autumn Hesse, Canby 6-1, 6-1
Emily Doss def. Kaylin Doan, Centennial 4-6, 6-4, 6-0
Sofia Rodriguez def. Vivian Williams, Wilsonville 0-6, 6-0, 6-4
Girls Doubles
Cate Haspela/Ellie Giordano def. Siliva Nunez Lopez/Meadow Palmer, Hillsboro 6-1, 6-2
(5) Charlotte Fuller/Anna Dalbey def. Halei Brunais/Megan Lamug, Hillsboro 6-0, 6-0
(3) Ava Giordano/Grace Kerr def. Tammy Nguyen/Celmy Groff, Parkrose 6-0, 6-1
(2) Emma Ahrens/Kenna Crocker, Wilsonville def. Amelia Hotchkiss/Tess Balzer 6-0, 6-0
Boys Singles
(4) Carson Abel def. Brandon Le, Parkrose by default
Rune Baumahckl def. Harrison Vu, Parkrose, 6-2, 6-1
Oscar Shen, LaSalle def. Ansel Bernard 6-3, 6-1
Boys Doubles
Asher Weld/Emmi Galindo def. Jack Bossenbrock/Bao Nguyen, Parkrose 6-2, 6-2
Judah Tsipin/Justin Fox def. Lucas Fetrow/Julian Rodriguez-Barrgon, Milwaukie 7-5, 6-4
Green Sutton/Cooper Castello def. Lev Adams/Abdie Abraham, Parkrose 6-0, 7-6
(3) Kane Wagner/Kash Wagner def. Jordan Thongsy/Jaden Nyguen, Centennial 6-1, 6-2
Boys Golf
Hood River Valley is in sixth after one round of the Class 5A Special District 1 Tournament at Meadow Lakes in Prineville. Aksel Betz had the best round of the day for the Eagles, shooting a ten-over-par 82 to be in ninth place.
The Dalles is in fifth after the first round at the Tri-Valley Conference Tournament at Arrowhead in Molalla. The Riverhawks’ Andrew Westin shot a 94 and is in ninth place.
Girls Golf
Hood River Valley is in sixth at the Class 5A Special District 1 Tournament at Meadow Lakes in Prineville. Kailee Klindt is in 18th after shooting 103 in the opening round.
The Dalles is in second behind leader Catlin Gable at the Class 4A Special District 2 Tournament at Arrowhead in Molalla. Elliott Winwood had the best round for the Riverhawks, and is in fourth place after shooting 101.
Dufur’s Tygh Timinsky leads by four shots at the Class 4A Special District 6 Tournament at Buffalo Peak Golf Course in Union. She had a two-over 74 in round one to lead Heppner’s Naomi Propheter by four. The Rangers are in third in the team standings.
Baseball
SW Washington Class 1A Tournament: Seton Catholic 23, Columbia 0: The Bruins will try to stay in the tournament at Castle Rock today at 4 p.m.
Molalla 4, The Dalles 2: Molalla scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to hand The Dalles its fourth straight loss.
Softball
The Dalles 10, Molalla 0: Siyra Faulkner homered, drove in three runs, and pitched a no-hitter in a five inning game as the Riverhawks won their 13th straight game. Cadence Young and Ainslee Eisland drove in two runs apiece.
May 8-9 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Hood River Valley 7, Canby 3: Maverick Hockett drove in two runs as the Eagles scattered 12 hits and moved into a first place tie with Wilsonville in the Northwest Oregon Conference heading into a two-game series with the Wildcats starting Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Traner Field.
Columbia 4, Hoquiam 3: Ryder Graves and Kellen Olson had back-to-back run scoring singles in the bottom of the sixth inning to lift the Bruins to the win in a Southwest Washington Class 1A District Tournament play-in game. CHS will visit Seton Catholic for a first round game today at 4 p.m.
Sherman sweeps Weston-McEwen 8-7 and 20-2: Diego Ambriz’s two-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning brought home the winning run and capped a three-run rally in the opener, then the Huskies scored 11 runs in the bottom of the fourth in the nightcap.
Softball
Canby 15, Hood River Valley 0: The Cougars scored eight runs in third inning to blow the game open. Kenadie Lucas had two hits for the Eagles.
Track and Field
Hood River Valley’s Syl Perrin won the girls’ 3,000 meters and The Dalles’ Evelyn Rogers took second in the girls’ shot put at the Dean Nice Invitational in Gresham.
The Stevenson boys won the Al McKee Invitational at home, while Trout Lake was second to Portland Christian in the girls’ half. Jude Travinski and Matthew Trollier of Stevenson and Jayden Kusky of Trout Lake all won two events in the boys’ competition, while Stevenson’s Daisy Jones won two events on the girls’ side.
Host Sherman was the boys’ winner and South Wasco the girls’ victor at the Sherman County Invitational in Moro. Lyle-Wishram’s Jack Thiemann and Sherman’s Chloe Simpson each won three events.
Columbia’s Samantha Evans won the high jump at the Spudder Classic in Ridgefield.
Girls Lacrosse
Hood River Valley 14, Oregon Episcopal 13: Hood River Valley will host Central Catholic in a first round state playoff meeting on Tuesday.
Girls Flag Football
Summit 24, The Dalles 0
Boys Lacrosse
Ida B. Wells 12, Hood River Valley 11
California Man Injured In Highway 97 Rollover
A 29-year-old California man was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries after a one vehicle accident on Saturday night on Highway 97 north of Goldendale. According to the Washington State Patrol, an older utility vehicle driven by Steven Castillo of Placentia, California was southbound on Highway 97 at Georgeville Road when it crossed the center line, struck the northbound guardrail, and rolled, coming to rest blocking the northbound line. The WSP says the vehicle failed to negotiate a curve, and indicated that drugs or alcohol were involved. The agency also said Castillo was not wearing a seatbelt. Castillo was taken to Klickitat Valley Hospital in Goldendale, and the WSP says he has been charged with driving under the influence.
Primary Ballots Starting To Come Back
Ballots are coming back in for the May 19 primary election, and it’s a bit quicker pace than similar elections in 2022 and 2024. The Hood River County Assessment, Records, and Election Department reports as of the end of Friday just over nine percent of ballots have been returned: 1,557. That’s up by 113 ballots from two years ago and 450 from 2022. In Wasco County, the Clerk’s office says on Friday nearly ten percent of ballots had been received: 1,871. It’s an increase of 126 from 2024, and 254 from four years ago. Ballots that are mailed must be postmarked by Election Day and received within seven days. U.S. Postal Service delivery times may vary, so local election officials advise you to return your ballot early. If you’re returning your ballot by mail within 7 days before the election, ask a USPS staff member to postmark the ballot by hand at your local branch or better yet drop the ballot in an official drop box.
The Dalles Issues Personal Fireworks Ban
The City of The Dalles has declared a state of emergency following Wasco County’s order banning fireworks due to fire-related safety concerns. As a result, the use of all fireworks is now prohibited within City limits. This prohibition includes lighting, igniting, or setting off any type of firework. The sale and possession of fireworks are not restricted under this order. The ban does not apply to commercial fireworks displays that are approved by local or state government, including the State Fire Marshal.
TREX Starts Prescribed Fire Training
Columbia Gorge Prescribed Fire Training Exchange, led by partners with Mt. Adams Resource Stewards, The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Forest Service and the Washington Department of Natural Resources, kicks off two weeks of prescribed fire training starting this week. CG TREX is a peer-to-peer learning opportunity that covers a variety of topics including fire management, ecology, outreach, monitoring, and operational dimensions of planning and implementing prescribed fire. Burning may occur anytime between Wednesday and May 21st. These burns are planned and scheduled to align with weather, fuel moisture, and air quality conditions that enable safe and effective operations. Burns will take place on lands owned and managed by the Eastern and Central Klickitat Conservation Districts, and Sacred Earth Foundation. Prior to burn days, a news release will be sent out with burn locations and the areas that will be impacted by smoke. Updates will also be posted to the Columbia Gorge TREX Facebook page. Because these burns are permitted by the Washington Department of Natural Resources, they are allowed to proceed after central and eastern Klickitat County burn bans go into effect on May 18th. The Prescribed Fire Information Line for CG TREX Burns is (541) 645-5683.
Old Dufur Road Work Set For Next Week
Next Monday, the City of The Dalles Public Works will repave the section of Old Dufur Rd. impacted by recent new utility service installation projects. A partial road closure will remain in place during work hours from May 18th to the 20th. A traffic message board will be in place at the intersection of E 10th St. and Old Dufur Road that says “1 LANE ROAD AHEAD, UP TO 20 MINUTE WAIT”. Flaggers will direct vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians safely through the work zone as equipment use allows. Work hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on each scheduled work day. The traveling public is advised to use alternate routes when possible. The road will reopen at the end of each working day. No parking will be allowed within the project areas to allow room for large equipment to safely work. No parking signs will be placed on road side 48 hours before the project moves into each work area.