Oregon Housing and Community Services says it is seeing promising progress from the first recipients of its Pre-Development and Capacity-Building grants designed to expand homeownership development across the state, including a project in Hood River. Big River Community Land Trust has broken ground on its first house and purchased 2.7 acres of land in Hood River. Big River CLT board president Doug Baker says they hope to build 40 to 50 affordable and sustainable cottages. The organization used the funding to hire Alysha Sherburne as their executive director, who reached out to a wide array of community groups, businesses, local government, and individuals. That culminated in a significant donation to support the trust’s operating expenses for the year. The PDCB program was established in 2023 as part of the larger Homeownership Development Incubator Program, which uses General Funds to support partners and projects not typically eligible for other homeownership development funds.
ODF Sees Uptick In Escaped Burn Pile Fires
The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District is seeing an uptick in escaped debris burn piles, with several over the past few weeks burning up to 30 acres in size. The agency says a recent 8-acre fire resulted from a week-old burn pile that was assumed to be out cold but rekindled several days later, requiring suppression action by firefighters. Not following burn day instructions, one of which is thoroughly checking the burn piles later when the weather shifts, are the leading causes of these escapes. Central Oregon District Forester Rob Pentzer reminds residents that escaped debris burns can lead to citations and cost collection from the responsible party for any suppression costs. ODF Fire Managers and Fire District Chiefs want to remind residents to check with their local fire district to ensure that burning is allowed on a given day, follow all instructions after obtaining any necessary permits, watch weather forecasts for wind and rapid changes, ensure you have a safe fire area cleared around your pile with water and tools readily available, and monitor your pile until it has consumed all fuels, then stir with water until the area is out cold. May is Wildfire Awareness Month.
Second Large Drug Seizure In A Week In Hood River
For the second time in a week, a traffic stop in Hood River led to the seizure of a large amount of drugs. According to the Hood River Police Department, an officer on Friday stopped a vehicle with an expired registration, and observed a passenger trying to hide something. A search of that location yielded over a pound of methamphetamine. A digital scale was also seized. The HRPD says both the driver and the passenger were taken into custody. Five days earlier, a Hood River traffic stop led to seizure of about half-a-pound of methamphetamine, ten grams of heroin, and fentanyl.
Washington Budgets Include Local Projects
The Washington Legislature’s transportation and capital budgets include funds for projects in the 17th District that includes Skamania and Klickitat counties. The transportation budget includes the new Hood River to White Salmon Bridge project with $115 million for this biennium. In the capital budget, there is $3 million for the White Salmon River Conservation Lands acquisition, $2 million for the Trout Lake recreation program, $1.5 million for the White Salmon Valley swimming pool, $1 million for Skyline Health’s critical hospital infrastructure, $940,000 for the Western Skamania County public safety complex, and $618,000 for Klickitat County Courthouse rehabilitation. The final plan leaves $348.8 million in bond capacity available for the 2026 supplemental capital budget.
HR School Budget Approved By Committee
The Hood River County School District Budget Committee needed only one meeting to review and approve the proposed budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year. The Budget Committee approved the proposed budget of $101,861,888 by a 9-3 vote. Additionally, the committee approved the imposition and categorization of ad valorem taxes, including the school district’s permanent tax rate of $4.8119 per $1,000 of assessed value, the $1.25 local option levy, and a general obligation bond levy of $5,232,600, by an 11-1 vote. The budget includes a number of cuts resulting in eliminated positions, as district officials deal will a number of factors including declining enrollment, uncertain funding levels from the state of Oregon, and rising operational costs including jumps in Public Employee Retirement System contributions. With the budget approved, a scheduled May 6 budget meeting has been canceled. The approved budget will move forward to the district board for adoption in June.
May 1 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
The Dalles 12, Molalla 9: The Riverhawks held on through a wild finish that saw the two teams combine for 15 runs in the final two innings. Avery Schwartz doubled and tripled and drove in five runs. The Dalles now leads by Molalla by two games atop the Tri-Valley Conference.
LaCenter 8, Columbia 3
Kalama 29, Stevenson 13
Kittitas sweeps Goldendale 9-3 and 3-2
Softball
The Dalles 11, Molalla 1: Hailey Johnston and Maddie Brock both homered during an eight-run sixth inning that put the game away. Johnston drove in three runs for the Riverhawks,
Columbia 9, LaCenter 7: Joella Bucher doubled twice and tripled, while Kiera Bucher doubled in the go-ahead runs as part of a four-run fifth inning.
Kalama 12, Stevenson 0
Kittitas sweeps Goldendale 23-6 and 15-7
Boys Tennis
Canby 4, Hood River Valley 4
Girls Tennis
Hood River Valley 8, Canby 0
Girls Lacrosse
Hood River Valley 12, Lincoln 11
Boys Volleyball
Parkrose def. Hood River Valley 25-9, 25-16, 25-21
April 30 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Hood River Valley 10, Milwaukie 0: Addison Postlewait, Bodie Stuben, and Trevor Jacobs all had two hits and a run batted in as the Eagles won their sixth in a row. Postlewait gave up only two hits and struck out eight in five innings on the mound.
Estacada 7, The Dalles 2: The Rangers jumped ahead early to hand the Riverhawks their first Tri-Valley Conference loss. Cody Agidius drove in the two runs for The Dalles.
Softball
Hood River Valley 18, Milwaukie 0: The Eagles scored 11 runs in the fourth inning on the way to their 12th consecutive win. Grace Rowan drove in three runs with a triple and a double, while Addi Van Metre also drove in three and hit an inside the park home run.
The Dalles 13, Estacada 3: Maddie Brock hit two home runs and drove in four runs. The Riverhawks scored nine runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to blow the game open, and remained a game behind Tri-Valley Conference leader Gladstone.
Track & Field
Centennial topped Hood River Valley in a Northwest Oregon Conference dual meet. Jack Miller and Wyeth Droege won a pair of events for the HRV boys.
Willow Ziegenhagen won a pair of events for The Dalles in a four-school meet at Madras
LaCenter topped Columbia, Stevenson, and Horizon Christian in a four-school meet. In the boys’ portion of the meet, Stevenson’s Jude Travinski and Horizon’s Charlie Haynie and Josiah Roberts won two events apiece. Stevenson’s Olivia Fauth and Horizon’s Hannah Adams each won a pair in the girls’ part of the event.
Boys Soccer
LaCenter 2, Stevenson 0
Columbia 12, Kalama 0
Girls Tennis
The Dalles 4, Riverside 1
The Dalles Council Considers Hearings Officer For Planning Decisions
The Dalles City Council is considering the merits of using a hearings officer to review land-use applications that require decision making beyond administrative processes. Those applications currently go to the Planning Commission, but many jurisdictions in Oregon, including Wasco County, have moved to using a third-party impartial land-use attorney instead. City Manager Matthew Klebes says this would allow the Planning Commission to focus on broader policy issues. Community Development Director Joshua Chandler said staff is proposing allocating $10,000 in the upcoming fiscal year for a hearings officer to deal with what usually is seven to eight applications that require this kind of process. All hearings officer decisions could still be appealed to the City Council. Chandler told the Council, which was generally supportive of the idea, that he will provide more specific information at an upcoming meeting.
Mays Testifies To Congress Support City Ownership Of Watershed Land
The Dalles Mayor Rich Mays testified before a House subcommittee in support of legislation that would give the City ownership of 150 acres of current Forest Service land within The Dalles’ municipal watershed adjacent to the City’s reservoir. Mays says the transfer would make it easier for the City to make needed improvements to reservoir and the Crow Creek Dam, cutting down on the permitting necessary with Forest Service ownership. Mays emphasized the request is not a knock on the Forest Service, noting it has been helpful to the City in past projects. Oregon Second District Congressman Cliff Bentz authored “The Dalles Watershed Development Act” that was heard by the House Natural Resources Committee’s subcommittee on Federal Lands, and he says he’ll continue to work to advance the legislation.
D21 To Open Kindergarten Registration
North Wasco County School District 21 will open Kindergarten registration for the 2025–2026 school year online at its website on Monday. Registration is available for incoming kindergarten students at Chenowith, Colonel Wright, and Dry Hollow elementary schools. Along with general registration, families may also submit interest forms for the Dual Language Immersion program at Chenowith Elementary. The program offers students the opportunity to become bilingual and biliterate in English and Spanish, beginning in kindergarten. Parents or guardians must provide documentation during the registration process of proof of age confirming the child will be five years old on or before September 1, two documents showing current residency in D-21, immunization records, and proof of dental and vision screening. Kindergarten open house events are scheduled for May 15 at Dry Hollow, May 29 at Colonel Wright, and June 5 at Chenowith, all from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the evening.