While this year’s snowpack in the mountains was bad, there is a reality that local irrigation districts have dealt with low water supplies in years past. Steve Pappas of East Fork Irrigation District points out that in 2021 and 2023, most of the snowpack had melted due to a heat dome, and that has not happened at this point of this year. Pappas says they aren’t asking for restrictions in the East Fork District at this point, and they have done a lot of piping in the lower basin in recent years that has significantly reduced spillage rates. Cindy Thieman of the Hood River Watershed Group notes that each irrigation district will have a different water source, so what they have to do will vary. Pappas noted East Fork has more piping projects planned in the coming years.
First Five Feet Important To Protect Homes From Wildfire
When it comes to protecting your home from wildfire, the first five feet is crucial. The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Nicholas Tenorio says it can be the difference between surviving a wildfire or suffering devastating damage. He encourages people to clean out that first five feet around the area, adding most home damage in wildfires come from embers that get blown in by the wind. Tenorio points out covering vents with 1/8″ metal wire mesh can prevent embers from entering the home. Landscaping options like gravel or pavers instead of bark mulch can reduce danger within the first five feet of the house. This is Wildfire Awareness Month, and the Oregon State Fire Marshal is encouraging Oregonians to complete one defensible space or home hardening project this week.
May 1-2 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
LaSalle 5, Hood River Valley 2: A three-run sixth inning lifted the Falcons to the win, breaking HRV’s ten-game winning streak and giving the Eagles their first loss in Northwest Oregon Conference play. Trevor Jacobs homered for the Eagles.
Sherman sweeps Pilot Rock 9-7 and 24-19: Levi Alsup drove in five runs and Creed Weedman four as the Huskies won a wild second game to sweep the doubleheader.
Softball
LaSalle 14, Hood River Valley 1
Track and Field
Tyson Long won the 1500 meters and was second in the 800, while Derek Goulart won the high jump to lead The Dalles to a second place finish in the boys’ portion of the Centennial Invitational. Abigail Pope was second in the 1500 and Rozlyn Elliott second in the high jump to be the top finishers for the Riverhawk girls.
Dufur won the girls’ title at the Redside Invitational in Maupin. Jacey Calloway won a pair of events for the Rangers, while Sherman’s Chloe Simpson was also a double winner. Lyle-Wishram’s Ezekiel Marble won three events, in the boys competition, while Dufur’s Zeb Stelzer and Trout Lake’s Jayden Kusky won two apiece.
Columbia’s four by 400 meter relay team, finished first, Samantha Evans won the high jump, and Sara Miller had two seconds and a third to help the CHS girls to a third place finish at the Panther Twilight at Washougal
Boys Lacrosse
Hood River Valley 13, Lincoln 5
Girls Lacrosse
Hood River Valley 17, Central Catholic 5
Girls Tennis
Hood River Valley 6, Wilsonville 2
Girls Flag Football
Bend 19, The Dalles 0
Reynolds 25, The Dalles 12
April 30 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
The Dalles 5, Gladstone 2: Gunner Bustos limited the Gladiators to five hits in a complete game performance as the Riverhawks gain a split in the two-game Tri-Valley Conference. The Dalles scored all of its runs early, with three in the first inning and two in the third.
LaCenter 9, Columbia 0
Kalama 6, Stevenson 1
Softball
The Dalles 8, Gladstone 1: Madalynn Sagapolutele had three hits including a home run, plus three runs batted in as the Riverhawks won their ninth straight and stay unbeaten in the Tri-Valley Conference. Cadence Young added two RBI for The Dalles.
Columbia 9, LaCenter 5: Joella Posini and Kiera Bucher each had three hits and Julia Mullinix homered as the Bruins finished up a sweep of the Trico League series.
Kalama 17, Stevenson 14 (8 innings): The Chinooks won the game with three runs in the eighth inning after Stevenson scored eight in the bottom of the seventh inning to force the extra frame. Kaycee Norris and Lillie Wilkerson drove in three runs apiece for the Bulldogs.
Boys Tennis
Hood River Valley 7, Southridge 1
Boys Lacrosse
Hood River Valley 18, Central Catholic 7
Boys Volleyball
Hood River Valley def. Parkrose 25-17, 25-20, 25-14
Estacada def. The Dalles 25-15, 25-14, 25-27, 25-17
White Salmon School District Tabs Eddy & Donnelly For Assistant Principals
The White Salmon Valley School District has tabbed Trisha Eddy as its new assistant principal for kindergarten to sixth grades, and Jim Donnelly in the same role for seventh to 12th grade. Eddy has more than 20 years of experience in elementary education, and is currently the district’s K-4 math specialist, helping lead districtwide math initiatives, strengthening intervention systems, and supporting collaborative instruction. Donnelly joins White Salmon Valley Schools from the Hood River County School District, where he has served as Hood River Valley High School’s interim principal this year and was assistant principal prior to that. He began his career as an English teacher before moving into instructional coaching and school leadership. The White Salmon Valley School District Board of Directors is scheduled to take formal action to approve both appointments at its May 28 board meeting. Both Eddy and Donnelly will begin their new roles on July 1.
TD Community Clean Up Saturday
The 38th Annual Spring Community Clean Up in The Dalles will take place on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Old Wasco County maintenance yard at the corner of West 10th and Walnut. Yard debris and large items, such as furniture, may be disposed of. Yard debris will be recycled so separate it from trash. Put leaves, grass and clippings in paper bags. Bundle branches with string or twine. Citizens are encouraged to separate usable goods from trash. Gently used items may be donated to the on-site Reuse Fair. Event participants may pick up “new” treasures from the Reuse Fair area at no cost. Organizers remind people that lines for the cleanup event are long and move slowly. Please reduce traffic congestion by driving to the collection site going westbound on 10th Street and then turn right onto Walnut Street so waiting trucks can pull to the side of the road. For more information about the cleanup, go to thedalles.org.
Open Studios Tour This Weekend
The 20th Annual Gorge Artists Open Studios Tour is this weekend. Forty-one studios from Carson to The Dalles will be open to the public, featuring 50 artists. Gorge Artists board member Rob Miller says it’s a self-guided tour that is free. The studios will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. A guide to where the studios are located is available online at gorgeartists.org. A published booklet with maps and artist profiles is available at local art galleries and visitors centers.
April 29 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Hood River Valley 13, Milwaukie 3: Maverick Hockett drove in three runs, while Kingston McAdam went three for three with two triples and two runs batted in for the Eagles, who won their tenth straight game. Tyson Harjo and Landon Pratt also had two RBI as HRV stays unbeaten in the Northwest Oregon Conference.
Gladstone 12, The Dalles 2: The Gladiators scored nine runs in the first three innings to cruise to the Tri-Valley Conference win. Kale Beardmore drove in both Riverhawk runs.
Heritage 14, Columbia 7
Softball
Hood River Valley 6, Milwaukie 3: Isa Rivera went three for three while Taylor Duckwall drove in two runs and Kenadie Lucas had nine strikeouts as HRV finished a two-game sweep of the Mustangs.
The Dalles 8, Gladstone 0: Siyra Faulkner pitched a no-hitter to lead the Riverhawks to their ninth straight victory. Faulkner struck out nine and walked only one. Hailey Johnston drove in three runs to lead the offense.
Track and Field
Madras topped The Dalles in a Tri-Valley Conference dual meet. Evelyn Rogers swept the throws for the Riverhawk girls, while Flamingo Duyck won two events. Ivan Martinez-Rodriguez scored the only win for The Dalles boys in the 3,000 meters.
Host Stevenson won the boys’ portion of a five-school meet. Jude Travinski of Stevenson, Simon Caldwell of Columbia, and Jayden Kusky of Trout Lake won two events each. LaCenter won the girls’ half of the meet. Mira McIlwain of Stevenson and Aurora Zoller of Trout Lake both won a pair of events.
Boys Soccer
Columbia 1, LaCenter 0:
Seton Catholic 9, Stevenson 1
Girls Lacrosse
Hood River Valley 16, Ida B. Wells 6
Skyline Health Levy Lid Lift At 53% Approval
Votes counted Tuesday night in the April 28 special election in western Klickitat County show Skyline Health’s levy lid lift request is being approved by just under 53 percent of voters. The first count has 1,534 votes approving the request by the Skyline Health Board of Commissioners to increase the hospital district’s regular property tax levy rate to 75 cents per $1000 of assessed value beginning in 2027, while 1,364 were against. Under Washington state law, public hospital districts are authorized to levy regular property taxes at a rate of up to 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed value for purposes of operating and maintaining healthcare facilities and services. Because state law limits the amount that taxes can increase without voter approval, Skyline Health’s levy rate has declined over the years to approximately 46 cents in 2026. The district board said the levy will provide additional operating and capital funds to support the delivery of hospital and other health care services. An updated vote count is planned for Thursday.
Pool Measure On May 19 Ballot
The Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District is asking voters in the May 19 election for a $40.36 million bond measure to rebuild the Hood River Valley Aquatic Center, and a five-year operations levy that would generate $1.06 million annually. The estimated property tax rate for the bond would be 64 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value, while the levy rate would be 33 cents per thousand. District Board President Christy Christopher says the bond measure is of a much narrower scope than a previous attempt in 2024, devoted to rebuilding the pool. The operations levy would provide for more maintenance of parks and trails, sustained pool hours and programs, and continuance of the district’s community recreation programs.