White Salmon Valley School District Superintendent Jerry Lewis, like many other superintendents in Washington, is watching closely legislative budget talks in Olympia to see if “hold harmless” funds are forthcoming.  Funding changes for K-12 education in Washington in the wake of the McCleary court decision has left the White Salmon district facing a $1.2 million dollar shortfall for 2019-20.  Lewis says a current proposal would only give the district $87,000, but he is trying to remain optimistic about a better outcome.  Lewis says the district currently has an ending fund balance of $2.2 million.

The driver of a vehicle who led police on a Monday morning pursuit from downtown The Dalles down Highway 30 to the Rowena interchange was found about a mile after officers terminated the chase having been ejected several feet from the vehicle which had rolled on its top.  The Dalles Police Department indicates Lifeflight was activated and the driver transported to a Portland area hospital. No update on the person’s condition has been released.  Wasco County Sheriff Lane Magill identified the driver as a woman from The Dalles.  The pursuit began just after 10 a.m. Monday when The Dalles Police attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation.  The vehicle did not pull over, and led two officers on a pursuit westbound through downtown The Dalles and onto Highway 30 to the Rowena interchange.  Officers terminated the pursuit shortly after that point, and one continued westbound at normal speed, and found the vehicle laying on its top and the driver several feet from the vehicle about a mile from where the chase stopped.  The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office is conducting the crash investigation.

Hood River County Commissioners approved the first reading of a long-discussed modification to the County’s short-term rental ordinance.  County Administrator Jeff Hecksel says the biggest change establishes a defendable residency requirement, and most notably dealing with residency on resource lands.  He noted there was a legal opinion that suggested there cannot be short-term rentals on resources lands unless a person is a resident based on state statute, so some adjustments had to be made based on that opinion.  The ordinance will come up before the Commission for final passage at its May 20 meeting.

The City of White Salmon is preparing for what it expects to be the final year of running the municipal swimming pool.  Mayor David Poucher says the City Council dedicated $65,000 to run the pool this summer.  He says the state has put some requirements on the City to allow the pool to operate.  The White Salmon Valley Metropolitan Park District was established in last November’s election to oversee construction of a new pool.

A bill that takes a step toward advancing the investigations and discovery of missing and murdered indigenous persons passed the Washington State Senate and is on its way to the governor for his signature.  Under the bill sponsored by 14th District State Representative Gina Mosbrucker, the Washington State Patrol is directed to develop a best practices protocol for law enforcement response to missing persons reports on and off reservations.  The measure passed the House unanimously in March.  Now it has gained unanimous approval in the Senate and was sent to the governor for his signature.

Boys Tennis

Hood River Valley 7, Pendleton 1

Boys Golf

The Dalles finished seventh and Hood River Valley ninth in a thirteen school tournament at Eagle Crest.  Tyler Vassar of The Dalles finished in a tie for fifth with a two-over-par 74.

Girls Lacrosse

Hood River Valley 16, Wilson 6:  Emma Kroll and Kathryn Koenig scored three goals each as HRV won its third in a row.

Columbia Area Transit is looking for input as it plans to expand bus service from Hood River to Government Camp.  The agency believes expansion of service to Government Camp will allow increased transit access for residents and visitors travelling to Mt. Hood for work, for school, or for play.  Community members can share their input through an online survey until April 30.   There will also be other opportunities for potential riders to share their thoughts including a Spanish-language discussion group, information tables at local events, and community presentations.  Information about the survey is at catransit.org.  The expanded service would begin this fall depending on study outcomes and funding availability.

Some deadlines for the Northwest Cherry Festival are getting closer.  One has been extended, as Lisa Farquharson of The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce says the deadline to submit entries for the Cherry Idol contest has been pushed back to this Friday.  Submissions may be delivered to The Dalles Chamber or uploaded to the Facebook event page.  In addition, the window decorating contest deadline to submit an entry and complete decorating is next Monday.  Farquharson says they would prefer to receive the entry beforehand so they can be ready to take pictures of your location.  Those applications are available at thedalleschamber.com.

There will be intermittent single lane closures of the Port of Hood River Interstate Bridge today through Friday.  The single lane closures will take place between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day, with delays of 15 to 20 minutes during those hours.  Flaggers will be on the bridge directing traffic.  On Thursday, April 25 and Friday, April 26 there will be intermittent full bridge closures with 30 to 40 minute delays, and there will be a complete overnight closure on April 29 between 9:30 p.m. and 5 a.m.  And Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says a follow-up project will have impacts on traffic in May.  Exact details of those bridge delays and closures will be announced at a later date.  McElwee says the goal is to get the maintenance projects done before the summer season and harvests.

Baseball

Hood River Valley sweeps Ridgeview 29-4 and 6-1:  Caden Leiblien, Grayson Losee, and Jeremiah Brittle all homered as the Eagles built a 22-0 lead in the first two innings of game one, while Harrison Howell pitched a complete game to win the nightcap.

The Dalles sweeps Redmond 12-9 and 15-5: Dalles Seufalemua hit a three-run homer in game one, while the Riverhawks tallied 13 runs in the first two innings of the second contest.

Columbia 13, King’s Way Christian 5

Sherman split with Union, losing the opener 8-7 but taking the nightcap 16-2.

Zillah sweeps Goldendale 23-0 and 14-4.

Softball

Ridgeview sweeps Hood River Valley 11-7 and 8-5:  Allicite Frost hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning of game two to give the Ravens the sweep.  Makenzie Chambers had two home runs and five runs batted in for HRV in the opener.

The Dalles sweeps Redmond 20-8 and 22-12.

Washougal 22, Stevenson 0

Zillah sweeps Goldendale 13-0 and 28-12.

Track and Field

Hood River Valley’s Henry Buckles was first in the boys’ shot put and second in the discus while Frances Dickinson was third in both the girls’ 1500 and 3,000 meters at the Sherwood Need For Speed Classic.

The Dalles’ Justin Conklin won the boys’ high jump and was second in the 110 meter hurdles at the Willamette Falls Invitational in Oregon City

Trout Lake won both the boys and girls team titles at their Jeff Agar Memorial Invitational.  Glenwood’s Brooklyn Emerson won three of the girls’ events, while Micah Colburn of Trout Lake won both boys’ hurdles races.

Stevenson won the girls team competition and was second to Ketchikan in the boys at their Al McKee Invitational.  Columbia’s boys were third and the girls’ fourth.  Stevenson’s Lincoln Krog and Columbia’s Chandlor Bucklin won three events apiece.

Girls Lacrosse

Hood River Valley 9, Beaverton 4