Columbia Gorge Community College, The Dalles-Wasco County and Hood River County library districts, and other local partners are embarking on the “Big Read” this month.  The community read effort is centered around the novel “Into the Beautiful North,” the story of a 19-year-old Mexican woman battling drug dealers in her hometown near the U.S.-Mexico border.  A month of events kicks off with a presentation by author and Pulitzer Prize nominee Luis Urrea Friday evening at 5 p.m. in The Dalles Civic Auditorium.  CGCC’s Dan Spatz says “Into the Beautiful North” was chosen because the issues in the book strike close to home with the dream of opportunity in America represented in the story.   Free copies of the book, in English and Spanish, are available at local libraries and at Klindt’s Booksellers in The Dalles.  A month-long event schedule is on The Dalles-Wasco County Library website.  The Big Read is being made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Hood River County Community ID program is underway.  The Next Door is administering the program for the County, which would provide a form of local government issued identification for any County resident who wants one.  Lorena Sprager of The Next Door says the idea for the card came from findings in a 2017 community-wide needs assessment showing the need for a sense of community and belonging that stretched across demographic sectors.  The card can be used for identification purposes on a local level, but cannot be used in place of state and federal identification and licenses.  Cost is $20, and it is good for two years.  No county funds or tax dollars are being used for the program.  Information is available at nextdoorinc.org.

The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office is warning citizens about someone claiming to be a deputy and calling people seeking personal or financial information.  According to a Sheriff’s Office Facebook post, the person says they are deputy with the last name of Reed or Reese, but the Sheriff’s Office does not employ a deputy with that name.  The Sheriff’s Office also says they would never call a person and ask to verify personal financial information.  They advise if you receive a call from someone claiming to be this deputy, do not provide any kind of personal financial information to them.

The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and Gifford Pinchot National Forest will host a firewood cutting event at Tracy Hill, near White Salmon, over the next two weekends.  The event serves dual purposes, providing valid permit-holders with firewood while removing flammable woody materials from National Forest System lands that were treated as part of fuels management activities.  The wood includes seasoned Douglas-fir in a range of sizes, easily accessible from decks and other piles of pre-cut rounds.  Wood quantities are limited and not guaranteed.  Gifford Pinchot National Forest firewood permits, which cost $10 per cord, are required, and are available at the Mt. Adams Ranger Station in Trout Lake, Home Valley Store, Wind River Market in Carson, and Main St. Convenience Store in Stevenson.  Gates to the site will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the next two weekends.  Scenic Area officials say this is a great opportunity in particular for people with disabilities and military veterans to acquire firewood for winter.

Boys Soccer

Hood River Valley 8, Crook County 2

The Dalles 2, Pendleton 1:  Jordan Buettner scored in the first half and Alex Gutierrez in the second half to led the Riverhawks to the win.  Jaime Castro made key saves late in the match to preserve the win.

 

Girls Soccer

The Dalles 3, Pendleton 0:  Brenda Chavez, Kendall Webber, and Vivian Harrah all scored as the Riverhawks won their second straight Intermountain Conference match.

Hood River Valley 10, Crook County 0

King’s Way Christian 4, Columbia 0

Castle Rock 2, Stevenson 1

 

Volleyball

The Dalles def. Redmond 17-25, 26-24, 20-25, 25-20, 15-11

Pendleton def. Hood River Valley 25-14, 27-25, 26-24

Castle Rock def. Stevenson 3 games to 0

King’s Way Christian def. Columbia 3 games to 0

Dufur def. Mitchell-Spray 25-13, 13-25, 25-5, 25-8

Sherman def. Ione-Arlington 3 games to 2

A public meeting is planned for later this month on the current review of the Recreation Chapter of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area’s management plan.  Scenic Area Recreation Officer Stan Hinatsu says much of the focus is on dealing with the increases in usage of recreation areas in the Gorge.  Hinatsu says as they heard more about the congestion issues, a technical expert in recreation planning was consulted, finding the plan does a very good job in managing the size and intensity of recreation development but could be enhanced to try to manage use.  Hinatsu says they are still in the development stage of the review process, meeting with various stakeholders and getting input on what they can potentially change in the plan, particularly in the recreational intensity guidelines.  A community meeting is planned for October 22 at 5:30 p.m. at the Wind River Education Center in Carson.

Local officials are warning about a chemical found in some over-the-counter medication that some youth are using as a recreational drug.  It’s called Dextromethorphan, otherwise known as DXM, “Triple C,” or skittles, and typically is in the form of red pills.  Debby Jones of YouthThink of Wasco County says abuse of DXM can result in a hallucinogenic effect that can happen fairly quickly, but also place the user in a paranoid state.  Excessive use of DXM can also include a loss of coordination, slurred speech, sweating, and lethargy.  Jones says they are trying to awareness of DXM among parents so they can know what to look for if they suspect their child may be using drugs.

Boys Soccer

Columbia Christian 4, Horizon Christian 3

 

Girls Soccer

Riverside 6, Columbia 4

Highland 9, Goldendale 0

 

Volleyball

Country Christian def. Dufur 25-17, 25-14, 25-20

Sunnyside Christian def. Lyle-Wishram 25-9, 20-25, 25-15, 26-24

Goldendale def. Highland 25-6, 25-9, 25-12

 

For the fourth year in a row, October is Gorge Happiness Month.  Emily Reed says Gorge Happiness Month started four years ago when One Community Health celebrated its 30th anniversary, but now it has a number of different sponsors.  Reed says the basic premise is based on science showing happy people are healthier.  This year’s theme is “Not perfect, but OK.”  There are a number of different Gorge Happiness Month events planned throughout October.  For a complete list of those events, go to gorgehappiness.org.