As the City of Hood River discusses going out for a bond measure in November of next year, one of the potential items to be included is a new building for the public works department. City Manager Abigail Elder says the current building is too small, with another five temporary structures being used as well. The City Council instructed staff to concentrate on four different elements in researching a bond measure, with the Public Works Building joined by renovation of the police station in City Hall, affordable housing, and Safe Routes to School projects. The City is bringing on a professional consulting firm to poll residents on what they would want in a bond measure, and how much they are willing to pay.
Operation Clean Sweep Starts In The Dalles
The City of The Dalles is beginning its annual Operation Clean Sweep to remove fallen leaves from area streets and keep them out of storm water catch basins. The City says its goal is to pick up leaves promptly so that they do not block the storm water catch basins and before they freeze onto the streets. Citizens are asked to park off the street during street sweeper work hours of 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Do not rake leaves from your yard into the street. Compost leaves at home or put them in your yard debris container for pick-up. You can also put them in compostable paper bags and take them to The Dalles Transfer Station. Remove large sticks or branches from the roadway so they don’t jam the sweeper, and clear storm drains in front of your house to prevent flooding during a rainstorm. During November The Dalles Transfer Station will accept yard debris at no charge. Take bagged leaves to the transfer station on 1317 West 1st Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Free leaf disposal is for City of The Dalles residential customers only. Use compostable paper bags, as The Dalles Disposal will not accept yard debris in plastic garbage bags.
Federal Street Water Main Work Starts Tuesday
The Dalles Public Works on Tuesday will begin work on Federal Street between East 1st and East 2nd to replace and upgrade water mains in the area. Phase 1 will require a full street closure through Thursday. Phase 2 will see Federal closed between East 1st and the alley between East 1st and East 2nd from November 3 to November 19. Parking lots on East 1st St. will remain open and accessible by alternate routes. Pedestrian and sidewalk access will remain open through the duration of this work. Work hours are from 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on each scheduled work day. The street will remain closed throughout the night and on the weekends. No parking will be allowed within the project areas to allow room for large equipment to safely work. If you have questions, contact The Dalles Public Works at (541) 296-5401.
Central Gorge Master Gardeners Sign-Ups Start Friday
OSU Extension’s Central Gorge Master Gardeners program will begin taking registrations for 2026 on Friday, October 31. Outreach Program Coordinator Megan Wickersham says the title is a bit misleading, saying you don’t have to be a “master gardener” to join. You only have to be interested in gardening and want to learn more. Those who are accepted into the program will take a series of classes during the winter on a wide variety of gardening-related subjects. Then members give back to the community through a variety of projects and outreach programs. To sign up for the Central Gorge Master Gardeners program beginning October 31, go online to centralgorgemga.org.
Food Banks Facing Challenges With SNAP Funding In Doubt
With Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds for many in jeopardy for November due to the federal government shutdown, cutbacks as a result of the megabill passed by Congress earlier in the year, and the cancellation of a federal commodities program that helped provided food, area food banks already operating near their limit are facing more pressure. Columbia Gorge Food Bank executive director Breen Goodwin attended a meeting this past week with other regional food bank directors in the state, and all are strategizing how to keep local food pantries supplied. She says it is a challenging situation to be in, but they are continuing to work to supply food for those who need it. About 750,000 Oregonians receive SNAP benefits, half of which are children. Goodwin encouraged those receiving SNAP benefits to keep in contact with their program coordinator to get the latest information on their benefits.
October 24-25 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Football
Hood River Valley 53, David Douglas 6
LaGrande 27, The Dalles 7
Columbia 30, Fort Vancouver 14
Imbler 52, Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 12
Sherman 27, Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 14
Volleyball
Big Sky Tournament at The Dalles
Semi-finals
Dufur def. Sherman 25-16, 25-15, 25-20
Ione-Arlington def. South Wasco 3-1
Third Place: Sherman def. South Wasco 25-21, 25-15, 25-13
Championship: Dufur def. Ione-Arlington 12-25, 25-27, 25-17, 25-15, 15-10
Boys Water Polo
Summit 16, Hood River Valley 0
Bend 11, Hood River Valley 9
Girls Water Polo
Bend 9, Hood River Valley 3
Boys Soccer
C.S. Lewis Academy 5, Trout Lake-Horizon Christian 4
October 23 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Volleyball
Hood River Valley def. Milwaukie 25-17, 25-17, 25-5
The Dalles def. Molalla 25-18, 25-18, 25-22
Columbia def. Castle Rock 25-19, 25-18, 25-23
Stevenson def. Fort Vancouver 3-0
Boys Soccer
Hood River Valley 4, Hillsboro 0
The Dalles 6, Estacada 0
Girls Soccer
Hood River Valley 3, Hillsboro 1
The Dalles 5, Estacada 0
Cross Country
Columbia was second and Stevenson third in the girls’ race at the Trico League Championships at Vancouver Lake. The Bruins’ Kathryn O’Connor finished second, while Daisy Jones was the top finisher for the Bulldogs in fifth. In the boys’ race Columbia took third with Stevenson fourth. Colby Clark of CHS took seventh individually and Stevenson’s Colton Hollis was eighth. LaCenter won both team titles.
HR Schools Approve Contract For Microgrid System
The Hood River County School District Board approved a just under $1.4 million contract to move forward with a project at Wy’east Middle School to install a microgrid system to include solar, bus charging, and an electric bus powered backup system. The long-discussed project is being funded through a combination of federal, state, and private grants. District Superintendent Bill Newton explains that the solar power generated at the site can be stored for emergency on a special school bus, and then in the case of an outage used to provide power to the Wy’east gymnasiums for use as a shelter. District Chief Financial Officer Mark DeMoss told the board the solar panels should be installed in a couple of months, with full construction taking place over the next year.
CGCC Joins Initiative To Help Rural Colleges Align With Community Needs
Columbia Gorge Community College has recently joined an initiative aimed at helping small, rural colleges align education with real community and workforce needs. CGCC Vice President of Instructional Services Dr. Jarett Gilbert says the school has always been in that space, but now they can work with similar colleges and see what is working around the country. Among new programs that CGCC has in development are Behavioral and Mental Health, Bachelor of Science in Education, and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Advanced Manufacturing. Gilbert notes all of the programs being considered are based off of feedback from community partners.
October 22 Prep Sports Roundup
Cross Country
Hood River Valley won the boys’ title at The Happy Hustle at Crystal Lake Sports Park in Corvallis. Sam Knoll finished third and Victor Coffman ninth to lead the Eagles. In the girls’ race, HRV’s Syl Perrin was third and Savina Davis fifth as the Eagles were eighth in the team standings.