Hood River and Wasco counties have received a grant from the Oregon Health Authority to put towards sustainable relationships for community health.  Jane Palmer is involved in administering the grant, saying the goal is to help make healthy choices easier, and support patients as they come into clinics and encourage them to do some of the preventive health activities that will save lives.  The grant brought $195,000 into the Columbia Gorge area, and many different health care agencies are involved in the effort.

The Hood River County Chamber of Commerce is taking entries now for the Holiday Parade on December 6 in downtown Hood River.  The Chamber’s Hannah Settje says this year they will not be taking parade entries the day of the event, but they will take entries from now until December 3.  Cost to enter the parade is $10 for non-profits and $20 for businesses, which supports the organization and implementation of the event.  Entry forms are available at hoodriver.org.

The U.S. Senate on Thursday approved an Agriculture Appropriations Bill that includes monies for economic development in the Gorge.  The offices of Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden say the bill includes $2 million to help Columbia River Gorge communities promote economic development through the Oregon and Washington Investment Boards, rounding out a $10 million commitment that was authorized when the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area was created.   Many in area governmental agencies have clamored for those funds for years.  The bill also includes language directing the Secretary of Agriculture to prioritize National Scenic Areas that were devastated by wildfires, including the Eagle Creek area in the Columbia River Gorge.  The bill now goes to the House.

The body of a 78-year-old Beaverton man who was reported missing on October 19 after not returning from mushroom picking north of Carson was found.  The Skamania County Sheriff”s Office says a member of a hunting party was told by a man who stopped at their camp that he had found a body just off the Forest Service 60 Road.  After one of the hunters called the Sheriff’s office, Klickitat County officers brought back the man who found the body, who then directed deputies to the deceased’s location, which was about six-tenths of a mile down the USFS 6052 Road and 250 yards into the woods.  Officers identified the body as that of Richard Sugai.  Skamania County Undersheriff Pat Bond indicated an autopsy will be conducted.

The Dalles Warming Place needs volunteers to help it operate this year.  St. Vincent dePaul executive director Dave Lutgens says their season will be starting soon, and they are extremely short of volunteers to run it, as many who have helped over the years are getting older.  Those would like to volunteer can contact Ed Elliott at 541-386-5857 or by e-mail at eelliott@gorge.net, or by calling the St. Vincent dePaul in The Dalles at 541-296-9566.  The Warming Place operates between November 15 and March 15 on nights when the temperature approaches or is below freezing, depending on wind and precipitation.

Hood River Shelter Services is getting ready to open its warming shelter at Riverside Community Church in mid-November.  Executive Director Sarah Kellems says they trained 35 volunteers during recent fall training sessions, and had 130 active volunteers last year.  This year they are adding a staff person to oversee shelter operations each night to help lessen the load on volunteers.  More volunteer trainings are planned in the winter, and donations of warm clothing and more are always needed.  For more information, go to hoodrivercares.org.

Cross Country

The Dalles won the boys’ title and Hood River Valley rolled to the girls’ crown at the Intermountain Conference championships at Sorosis Park.  In the boys’ run, the Riverhawks held off second place Crook County and third place HRV in a close race.  Alec Case of Crook County was the individual winner, with Juan Diego Contreras of The Dalles in second and Sam Alvarez of the Riverhawks in fourth.  Omar Quintana was the top HRV runner in sixth.  Hood River Valley took four of the top five places to cruise to the girls’ team championship.  Josephine Dickinson was the individual winner, with teammates Lottie Bromham in third, Frances Dickinson in fourth, and Chloe Bullock in fifth.  Hanna Ziegenhagen topped the Riverhawks in seventh.

 

Columbia won the boys’ championship at the Southwest Washington Class 1A District meet in Woodland.  Thomas Ziegler of the Bruins was fifth while Jacob Lockman was right behind in sixth.  Abiy LaCombe of Stevenson finished 11^th to lead the Bulldogs to a sixth place finish.  In the girls’ competition Columbia took third and Stevenson fourth.  Isabella Spencer of Stevenson finished sixth, and Columbia’s Joules Hope was seventh.

 

Goldendale dominated the girls portion of the SCAC Championships at Apple Ridge.  Ellie Rising was the individual winner, while Timberwolf teammates Kimberly Chestnut and Abby Hedges were right behind in second and third.  The Timberwolves were fourth in the boys’ race, with Corbin Riley taking fifth and Sterling Beasley sixth.

 

Boys Soccer

The Dalles 3, Hood River Valley 2:  Goals by Fabian Canchola and Miguel Leon in the opening 20 minutes jumpstarted the Riverhawks to a win that clinched a state playoff berth and also denied the Eagles an undisputed Intermountain Conference title.  HRV closed to within 3-2 early in the second half, but The Dalles was able to deny the equalizer.  Hood River kept a share of the league title when Pendleton defeated Ridgeview 2-0.

 

Girls Soccer

Hood River Valley 2, The Dalles 0:   The win by Hood River gave them a share of the Intermountain Conference crown, as Ridgeview kept its half of the title by defeating Pendleton.

 

Volleyball

Columbia def. Stevenson 3 sets to 0.

The Hood River City Council approved setting aside $1.637 million dollars to use as a side account for future Public Employees Retirement System obligations, making it eligible for matching funds from the state.  City Manager Rachel Fuller noted Hood River had already put aside $500,000 a few years ago in a similar move, but this time a 25 percent state match would grow this account to over two million dollars.  Fuller says the goal is to help the City weather PERS rate increases.  Fuller adds they may not use all the money that Council gave authorization for, saying they don’t have to make that decision yet.

Columbia Gorge Community College expects to announce the selection of a general contractor for the Treaty Oaks Skills Center and Housing Project sometime next week.  CGCC’s Dan Spatz says they have an architect on board that has worked on a number of other career and technical education projects for community colleges in Oregon.  The college anticipates beginning building in May.  Design of both the skills center and the housing is currently underway.

 

The Hood River City Council has given municipal staff the go-ahead to acquire $1,600,000 in funding to attempt to acquire a seven-acre parcel on the west side of Rand Road for an affordable housing project.  It’s the latest effort by Councilors to address a lack of affordable housing opportunities.  The property is currently a mix of several different residential zones.  Mayor Kate McBride says after the collapse of the City’s efforts to develop a portion of the Morrison Park property for a housing project, they are looking for another location.  Infrastructure for the property would have to be addressed to develop it.  The City is seeking a loan with a ten-year repayment period, and has $400,000 in construction excise tax revenues that are earmarked for affordable housing to help offset some of that cost.  City Manager Rachel Fuller says the City is in the due diligence portion of the purchase.