Boys Soccer Hood River.Valley 3, The Dalles 0:  Omar Escobedo and Jaden Dubon scored in the opening eight minutes to get the Eagles off to a quick start.  Cody Cornejo added a late tally in the final minute. Horizon Christian 1, Columbia Christian 1   Girls Soccer Hermiston 4, The Dalles 1   Volleyball Hood River Valley def. The Dalles, 18-25, 25-20, 25-13, 25-22 Goldendale def. King’s Way Christian 25-12, 25-23, 21-25, 20-25, 15-11:  Goldendale goes to 5-0 in the Trico League and takes a two-match lead over King’s Way atop the standings. Columbia def. Seton Catholic 3 games to 2:  First win of the league season for the Bruins. Sherman def. Mitchell-Spray 25-16, 25-16, 25-21 South Wasco def. Klickitat-Glenwood 25-17, 25-9, 25-14 Onalaska def. Stevenson 25-11, 25-8, 25-11   Cross Country Stevenson’s Isabella Spencer finished second in the girls’ race at the Central 2B League Championships in Onalaska.  Spencer finished a little over 43 seconds behind winner Selena Niemi of Kalama.  Stevenson finished fifth in the boys’ team standings.  Yanni Belousov was the top Bulldog finisher in 22nd.

Hood River County moves into Oregon’s COVID-19 lower risk category beginning Friday.  Hood River County Health Department Director Trish Elliott says COVID case numbers have dropped steadily in the last month, with only fifteen in the two-week period that ended last Saturday that resulted in the category change.  Elliott does caution people still need to continue to exercise precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  Wasco County remains in the lower risk category after seeing only four new COVID-19 cases in the two-week period that ended last weekend.

Hood River City Manager Rachael Fuller will step down from her position in July.  In her resignation letter, Fuller stated that she had made the “very difficult” decision to move on from her position for personal reasons.  In the letter, Fuller said her last day of work will be July 2, providing time to complete the budget process, get through the worst of the COVID-19 health crisis and finish several key projects.  Fuller added she is committed to a smooth transition and will do whatever she can to support the City Council and the organization in this regard, including being available to assist with projects, if needed.  Mayor Kate McBride said she was sad to lose Fuller as City Manager, but is grateful for her service to the community, especially during the challenges of the past year.  McBride says the Council will decide how to fill the position and will likely request proposals from executive recruiting firms to assist with the search for Fuller’s replacement.

The Klickitat County Health Department on Thursday confirmed the COVID-19 related death of a county resident.  According to the department, the individual was 80 years old and had tested positive for COVID-19.  They were transported to a hospital where they died on Tuesday.  County health officials say this person did have underlying health issues that affected their health in addition to having COVID-19.  Klickitat County has had a total of 743 COVID-19 cases to date and nine deaths.  The health department is investigating any and all close contacts or possible exposures related to this individual.  At this time, it appears that the case was related to community transmission.  Klickitat County Public Health Director Erinn Quinn emphasized the importance of continuing to wear face coverings in public and staying home when feeling sick.

Cross Country The Dalles won the boys’ race and Hood River Valley the girls’ competition in an Intermountain Conference dual at Sorosis Park.  In the boys’ run, Juan Diego Contreras and Nick Caracciolo had a one-two finish for the Riverhawks, with the Eagles’ Thomas Ziegler in third.  In the girls’ race, HRV took five of the top six places, led by individual winner Chloe Bullock.  The Dalles’ Hanna Ziegenhagen finished second.   Volleyball Dufur def. Lyle-Wishram 25-15, 26-24, 25-12 Toutle Lake def. Stevenson 3 games to 0   Girls Soccer Stevenson 2, Winlock 1

The Hood River County Health Department has set up its call center to help direct people toward getting a COVID-19 vaccine.  Department Director Trish Elliott says they have been very busy receiving questions, but it is working well to direct callers where they need to go, whether it’s the department or elsewhere.  Elliott said phone line capacity issues are forcing those staffing the call center to return messages rather than taking calls directly, but they are usually returned within 60 minutes.  The call center number is 541-387-6911.  Elliott also said that starting March 29 when the number of people eligible for vaccination increases, the Department plans to move to open scheduling for its vaccinations rather than using an invitation system.

A bill to create a dedicated account to prevent and fight wildfires in Washington has unanimously passed the state House and is on its way to the Senate.  The bill calls for $125 million every two years to boost wildfire response, accelerate forest restoration, and support community resilience.  Washington Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz has pushed for this bill for the last couple of legislative sessions in response to increasing wildfires in the state.  14th District Representative Gina Mosbrucker says they expect some federal help in paying for the fund.  In its current form, the general fund will be used to pay for the account, but Mosbrucker says that could change in the Senate.  Wildfires burned 812,000 acres in Washington last year.

The Hood River City Council took testimony this week on proposed “middle housing” codes intended to encourage a diversity of housing types including duplexes, triplexes, and cottage housing in more residential zones.  Most who testified were in favor of the changes, noting the lack of housing that is affordable to those who work in the community.  Cardinal Glass plant manager David Windsor told the Council his employees struggle trying to find a home to purchase.  But there were plenty of questions on the details surrounding the proposed code changes, in particular around whether parking requirements would be sufficient.  The Council will continue the hearing this coming Monday at its 6 p.m. meeting.

The Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals reversed The Dalles City Council’s decision to deny a permit for Legacy Development Group’s “The Grove” subdivision on Richmond Street.  In its final opinion and order, LUBA sustained all of Legacy’s challenges to the Council’s bases for denial of the application, and ordered the City to approve it.  The order goes on to say the Council denied the application on bases barred by state law because the standards the Council found were not met are not “clear and objective”…therefore the decision was “outside the range of discretion allowed the local government under its comprehensive plan and implementing ordinances.”  Much of LUBA’s decision centered on transportation impact study issues.  The City can appeal LUBA’s decision to the Oregon Court of Appeals.  Mayor Rich Mays indicated the Council would discuss the matter in executive session during their meeting on Monday night, but there was no decision announced after that session.

The winter warming shelters that were placed on City of The Dalles property on Bargeway Drive will be closing at the end of the month.  City Councilor Darcy Long-Curtiss told the Council on Monday that the shelter worked as it was intended to.  She added mainstream housing vouchers have been received for some of those in the shelters as part of federal COVID-19 relief, but housing supply remains a problem.  Long-Curtiss adds they housed some people in the shelter with serious medical issues who would not have otherwise made it through the winter.