Intermountain Conference Volleyball Tournament First Round The Dalles def. Hood River Valley 25-17, 25-18, 25-23:  The Riverhawks will play a semi-final match on Thursday on the road.  

Wasco County’s legal counsel, district attorney, and sheriff advised County Commissioners to let legal proceedings surrounding a voter-approved Second Amendment Sanctuary Ordinance in Columbia County play out before considering any similar action.  County Commissioner Steve Kramer brought the subject for discussion as the Oregon Legislature considers Senate Bill 554 which authorizes entities that own, occupy or control public buildings to adopt ordinances, rules, or policies limiting or precluding possession of firearms in those buildings by concealed handgun licensees.  The Columbia County ordinance, along with those in Wheeler and Yamhill counties, seek to prohibit the use of county resource to enforce state and federal gun laws.  Wasco County legal counsel Kristen Campbell said that leads to a pre-emption issue, as a County can’t pre-empt state or federal law.  District Attorney Matthew Ellis added the supremacy clause prohibits local laws in conflict with federal statutes, and Sheriff Lane Magill said he was concerned about leaving officers vulnerable to civil lawsuits.

Washington 14th District State Representative Gina Mosbrucker has introduced legislation to help tribal and law enforcement authorities work together to solve cases involving missing and murdered indigenous persons.   House Bill 1571, or “The Bring Them Home Bill,” follows up on two other bills on the subject the Goldendale Republican has introduced and helped pass over the past three years.  Mosbrucker says this bill has five parts, including establishing an Amber Alert-type system.  She adds this bill is being introduced now to set it up for consideration in the 2022 legislative session.  The bill also allows tribal members to pray over a deceased indigenous person without compromising the scene before an autopsy is conducted.

Wasco County has reported only six new COVID-19 cases in the past two weeks, but County officials are reminding people to keep observing public health guidelines, noting case rate increases in other parts of the state.  County Commission Chair Scott Hege said this is not the time to let our guard down.  County Administrator Tyler Stone noted people can still use the North Central Public Health District website, ncphd.org, to sign up to be vaccinated.  He added the district is working with the Oregon Health Authority for Wasco County to receive some of the Pfizer vaccine approved for use in 16 and 17-year-olds.

The Hood River County Health Department and Heart of Hospice are holding a COVID-19 vaccine clinic for Cascade Locks residents on Thursday and Sunday.  It will be a walk-in clinic with no appointment necessary, with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine that requires just one dose being offered.  Vaccinations are free, with no identification or insurance information required.  Name, date of birth, and address will be requested for the vaccine card.  The clinic will be in the Marine Park Pavilion in Cascade Locks on Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.  For information call 541-386-1942.

Intermountain Conference Soccer Tournament Boys The Dalles 6, Redmond 3:  The Riverhawks visit Ridgeview in the semi-finals on Wednesday. Girls Hood River Valley 7, Crook County 0:  The Eagles advance to a semi-final match at The Dalles on Wednesday.   Boys Soccer Hood River Valley JV 1, Trout Lake 0   Volleyball South Wasco def. Klickitat-Glenwood 25-9, 25-18, 25-18   Baseball Toutle Lake 7, Stevenson 3   Softball Toutle Lake 21, Stevenson 3

The Hood River County Commission is starting to think about what it will do with what’s expected to be a sizeable amount of federal money from the American Rescue Plan.  County Administrator Jeff Hecksel told Commissioners they are still awaiting specific guidance from the U.S. Treasury.  Commissioners Arthur Babitz and Bob Benton were selected to be an ad-hoc task force to examine how the funds can be best used and make some high-level recommendations to the entire panel.  Babitz noted one of the difficulties will be while there are specific programs within the American Rescue Plan with a specific carve-out, but at the end money is assigned to local government to make determination as where to fill in gaps.  Commissioners plan to hold a worksession on the subject after the committee develops some recommendations.  

YouthThink of Wasco County will be offering a free virtual presentation of the film “Screenagers: Next Chapter” in late May.  The film is the sequel to “Screenagers” produced by Dr. Delaney Ruston, and discusses solutions for adolescent well-being in the digital age.  Debby Jones of YouthThink says the virtual presentation will include both the film and a Q-and-A session with Ruston.  The screening will take place May 25 at 6:30 p.m., and it will be free.  Jones says they will begin to provide sign up information at YouthThink.net soon.  

The Dalles Public Works on Wednesday will begin paving repair of the street cuts for installation of a sanitary sewer main on East Scenic Drive between the entrances to Columbia Gorge Community College and Sorosis Park.  Construction is expected to occur for two days with expected completion by Thursday.  The eastbound lane will be closed for repairs on a section of roadway.  Through traffic will be flagged to a single lane next to the construction zone, but expect delays.  Work hours will be 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Business and residential neighborhood access will be open during construction.  The sidewalk will remain open to pedestrian traffic during construction.

About 11 months after voters in Hood River County approved a five-year local option levy for public safety, Sheriff Matt English told County Commissioners they are moving forward with what they wanted to accomplish.  English said they felt an immediate impact from filling an administrative position to free up more time for deputies.  One deputy graduated from the Oregon Police Academy on Friday, and two more will do so at the end of the month.  English said they are back up to 20 hours a day of coverage, and the goal of 24/7 coverage is closing in on happening, either in the fourth quarter of 2021 or the first quarter of 2022.  English did say there were early setbacks due to COVID-19, primarily involving training delays, but those have been overcome.