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.

A “Community Connection” event will take place on Wednesday in The Dalles to help those who are homeless be able to access services.  St. Vincent dePaul executive director Dave Lutgens says the event is intended to connect those in need with those who can help in a number of different areas.  There will be flu shots and veterinary care will also available, and The Dalles Police Department will be helping those who have lost their identification cards to rectify that.  The Community Connection event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mid-Columbia Senior Center on 10th and Cherry Heights in The Dalles.

The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday suspended the search for a mushroom picker who has been missing for ten days.  78-year-old Richard Sugai of Beaverton was reported missing by family members on October 19 after a day of mushroom picking on the Forest Service 60 Road north of Carson.  Undersheriff Pat Bond said officers conducted another search over the weekend, but were met with negative results.  Family members issued a statement through the Sheriff’s Office, thanking searchers and saying while they never want to give up hope, with each passing day they believe they have been transitioning from a mission of rescue to one of recovery.  Anyone who may have information on Sugai’s disappearance is asked to contact the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office.

Mid-Columbia Economic Development District will celebrate its 50th anniversary celebration by hosting its Gorge Economic Symposium this Friday at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center.  MCEDD’s Tatiana Eckhart says the symposium will touch on that milestone along with focusing on economic development in the Gorge.  NW Natural CEO David Anderson will be the keynote speaker.  The symposium runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday with tickets $25, and they are available at mcedd.org.

Klickitat County is in the midst of its 2020 budget process.  County Commissioner Jim Sizemore says their fiscal picture looks good thanks to steady revenues over the last five years.  Sizemore pointed out union negotiations are set for next year that will cover the next three years.  Commissioners have not yet decided on the cost of living adjustment for 2020, but Sizemore expects that will be approved.

Oregon Second District Congressman Greg Walden announced today he will not seek re-election to the office he has held since first being elected in 1998.  The Hood River Republican revealed his decision in a video statement.  Walden said based on recent polling, strong fundraising, and the backing of his family, he is confident he could have won another term, but the time had come to pursue new challenges and opportunities.  He added that he will not seek election to any other office, and will close the public service chapter of his life.  Walden served six years in the Oregon House and two years in the Oregon Senate along with what will end up being 22 years in Congress.  In the statement, Walden cited among accomplishment during his tenure standing up for the ranching and farming way of life in eastern Oregon, and helping Oregonians receive the Social Security, Medicare, and veterans’ benefits they earned.

A 20-year-old Goldendale woman died in a one-car accident on the Klickitat-Glenwood Highway early Saturday morning.  According to the Washington State Patrol, a car was traveling eastbound on the highway about thirteen miles west of Goldendale just before 3 a.m. when if left the roadway onto the eastbound shoulder, and struck a guardrail and a tree before coming to rest on the shoulder.  The WSP says a passenger in the vehicle, 20-year-old Makayla Braswell of Goldendale, died in the accident.  Another passenger, 22-year-old Rafael Alvaro of Goldendale, was taken by LifeFlight to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland.  The WSP says the driver, 25-year-old Charles Mescher of Goldendale, was injured but not transported to a hospital.

Biannual bridge deck maintenance welding on the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge will continue into its second week starting Monday at 9:00 a.m.  While the work is weather dependent, bridge users should plan for delays or seek alternate routes between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. all week long.  Welding crews will continue their work until it is complete.  Flaggers will direct traffic around the moving work zone throughout the week.  Expect delays and drive slowly for worker safety.

Football

Hood River Valley 52, Milwaukie 12:  The Eagles will play for a Class 5A playoff berth at Hillsboro this Friday night.

North Marion 21, The Dalles 20:  The Dalles will host Valley Catholic in a play-in game Friday night, with the winner going to the state 4A playoffs.

LaCenter 28, Columbia 14

King’s Way Christian 49, Stevenson 0

Dufur 72, Lyle-Wishram 30

Sherman 67, Gilchrist 19

South Wasco 57, Triangle Lake 20

Goldendale 47, Highland 0

 

 

Volleyball

South Wasco finished second and Dufur third in the Big Sky Conference Tournament, sending both to the state 1A playoffs.  South Wasco swept Dufur in the semi-finals before falling to Echo in three in the final.  Dufur bounced back in the third place match to sweep Ione-Arlington.  Dufur will be at Damascus Christian for the first round of the playoffs on Wednesday, while South Wasco will host Wallowa.

 

Boys Soccer

Life Christian Academy 7, Trout Lake 1