The countdown is on to turn in ballots for this year’s special districts election in Oregon.  Ballots must be delivered to County election offices or designated drop boxes by 8 p.m. on Tuesday.  In Hood River County, take ballots to the elections’ office on 601 State Street in Hood River or to Cascade Locks City Hall.  In Wasco County, drop ballots off at the County Courthouse on 511 Washington in The Dalles or at Maupin City Hall.  Board positions for ports, school districts, and other various special districts are on this year ballot.  In Hood River County there are two tax measures on the ballot:  a five percent prepared food and beverage tax and a five-year local-option property tax levy that County officials say are needed to maintain County services.  In Wasco County the White River Health District has a five-year local-option tax for general operations on the ballot.

The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office says a series of recent operations by the Mid-Columbia Interagency Narcotics Task Force resulted in multiple arrests for possession and distribution of controlled substances.  Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office, operating as part of MINT, conducted a series of operations in recent weeks that resulted in the arrest of five people on controlled substance charges.  Three people were each arrested on possession and delivery charges in the city of Hood River, including delivery within 1,000 feet of a school.  A fourth was also arrested on possession and delivery charges in close proximity to a dance studio, and a fifth was arrested in Cascade Locks on possession and delivery charges, and was also listed as a fugitive from another state.  The Mid-Columbia Interagency Narcotics Task Force consists of detectives from the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, The Dalles Police Department and the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office.  Anyone with information is encouraged to call the MINT Tipline at 541-296-1885.

As work continues on the environmental impact statement for a potential replacement of the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge, the question of how to fund the next phase of that project begins to crop up.  Port of Hood River Executive Director Michael McElwee says that next phase could cost up to 25 million dollars if a significant level of engineering was done, or it could be four to five million dollars to get to the point where a federal grant application could be prepared.  The EIS record of decision is expected at the end of 2020.

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce is taking entries for the Gorge Hops and Hogs Fest Barbecue Challenge coming up in mid-June.        The Chamber’s Lisa Farquharson says they have a few entries so far, but they can handle up to twenty, and anyone is eligible.  The will be three categories for competition:  pork ribs, tri-tip, and chicken thighs.  The Gorge Hops and Hogs Fest will be Saturday, June 15 at Lewis and Clark Festival Park in The Dalles.  To sign up for the barbecue challenge go to gorgehopsandhogs.com.

Weekend Results

Track and Field

The Dalles’ boys were third and Hood River Valley fourth while HRV’s girls were third and The Dalles fourth in the Intermountain Conference Championships in Prineville.  Crook County won the boys’ title and Ridgeview the girls’ championships.  In the boys’ competition Hood River’s Henry Buckles won both the shot put and discus and teammate Josh Haynes won the 1500 meters, while The Dalles’ Justin Conklin won the high jump and Sam Alvarez the 3,000 meters.  On the girls’ side the Eagles’ Frances Dickinson won both the 1500 and 3,000 meters and Poppy Miller won the pole vault, while The Dalles received first place finishes from Emily Adams in the long jump and Emma Mullins in the 800 meers.

Dufur won the Oregon Class 1A boys’ track and field championship, with Sherman finishing in a tie for third.  The Rangers’ Asa Farrell was named athlete of the meet, winning the 100 meters, finishing third in the 200, fourth in the long jump, and anchoring Dufur’s first place 4 by 100 meter relay win.  Teammate Tanner Masterson won the 200 meters, was second in the 100, and was also a part of the relay victory.  Sherman’s Owen Christiansen was first in the triple jump and second in the long jump, and Horizon Christian’s Andrew Wells was second in the discus and fourth in the shot put.  South Wasco’s Madisen Davis took first in the girls’ javelin.

Lyle-Wishram’s Brandon Montoya won the boys 100 and 200 meters and the long jump at the Washington Class 2B District 5/6 Qualifier at Quincy

Goldendale’s Ellie Rising won the girls’ 800 and 1600 meters while teammate Tiana Watson won the girls’ javelin at the SCAC Districts at Cle Elum

Tennis

Oregon Class 5A Tournament

Boys Singles

Hood River Valley’s Vaughn Reardon finished fourth, winning his first two matches before falling in the semi-final in straight sets to Bojan Soskic of Crescent Valley and dropping the third place match to Breaden Brooks of Redmond.  HRV’s Ben Fick split two matches in reaching the quarterfinals.

Boys Doubles First Round

Devam Patel and Ethan Martin of The Dalles won one of tree matches.

Girls Singles First Round

Montserrat Garrido of Hood River Valley split four matches and reached the consolation final, while Charel Gijizen of The Dalles won one of three.

Oregon Class 4A/3A/2A/1A Tournament

Girls Singles

Savannah Moe of Sherman won one of three matches.

Girls Doubles First Round

C.J. Johnson/Gaby Rubio, Sherman lost both of their matches.

SCAC District Tournament

Goldendale’s Kelli and Kristin Bighorn won the girls’ doubles title at the SCAC District Tournament.  The Bighorns defeated Johanna Simmons and Makenna Roe of Naches Valley 6-3, 6-0 in the final.  They move on to the Washington Class 1A tournament on Friday in Yakima.

Oregon Girls Lacrosse Association Playoffs

Quaterfinal

Hood River Valley 10, Oregon Episcopal 9:  Abby Bartles scored three goals and Emma Kroll two as HRV upset the second-seeded team in the tournament.  The Eagles are at Lake Oswego for a semi-final game today at 6 p.m.

Oregon High School Lacrosse Association Playoffs

Round 1

Central Catholic 9, Hood River Valley 6

Washington Class 1A Baseball Tournament

First Round

Columbia 4, Cedar Park Christian (Bothell) 0:  The Bruins scored four runs in the ninth inning to back eight scoreless innings on the mound by Davis Koester.

Quarterfinal

University Prep 8, Columbia 3:  University scored five in the first two innings to advance to the semifinals and end the Bruins’ season.

Hood River Valley learned on Sunday they will be at West Albany on Wednesday for round one of the Oregon Class 5A tournament.  Game time has not yet been announced.

Softball

Hood River Valley 6, Banks 1:  The Eagles finished the regular season with their 20^th victory of the year.  Haylee Baker doubled twice while Lauren Decker struck out nine while pitching a three-hitter.   The Eagles host St. Helens in round one of the Class 5A playoffs on Wednesday at 4:30.

Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek has introduced a bill calling for the state to keep roughly half of the estimated one-point-four billion dollar “kicker” refund to use on a set of transportation issues, but at least one Senator says it has no traction to advance.  29th District Senator Bill Hansell feels there is no way it can get through, as it would take a constitutional amendment that requires two-thirds support in both the House and Senate.  Under Oregon’s Constitution, the unique kicker tax rebate is triggered when tax revenues for the two-year budget cycle come in more than two percent above economists’ forecast from the start of the cycle.

The Hood River County Chamber of Commerce and Chief Executive Officer Mike Glover have parted ways.  In a written statement issued Thursday night, the Chamber Board announced Glover was no longer employed by the organization.  The Chamber called this a “leadership transition” and did not elaborate on the reasons for the split.  Glover joined the Hood River Chamber in the CEO position in 2013.  The Chamber says current staff members Ashley Huckaby May and Kate Schroder will serve as interim leaders for the organization.

East 19th Street from Dry Hollow Road to one-thousand feet west will be closed to all traffic in both directions during working hours from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting on Monday and continuing through May 30.  Motorists, bicycles and pedestrians are asked to use detours around the work zone during work hours.  The street will be reopened to the traveling public each evening.  Local access will be provided by prearrangement only to properties adjacent to the work zone.  The purpose of this project is to rebuild the failed roadway.  This street work is expected to restore the pavement structure and provide safer pedestrian passage.

Track and Field

Stevenson won the boys’ title at the Southwest Washington Class 1A District Meet at Woodland.  The Bulldogs’ Lincoln Krog led the way with first place finishes in four events:  the 100 meters, high jump, long jump, and triple jump, while Ethan Haight won the 800 meters.  Columbia was fifth, receiving victories from Stanley Hylton in the javelin and the four by 400 meter relay team.  Stevenson was third in the girls’ standings while CHS was fifth.  The Bruins’ Hannah Polkinghorn won both the 100 and 200 meters, while Stevenson had three first place finishes:  Isabella  Spencer in the 3200 meters, Sara Campbell in the pole vault, and Cassie Macnab in the triple jump.

Trout Lake’s girls finished first and the boys second in the Washington Class 1B District 5/6 Meet at Moses Lake.  Trout Lake’s Liz Fink and Isabella Dean each won two events for the Mustang girls, while Glenwood’s Brooklyn Emerson also won a pair of events.  Justin Peck won two events for the Trout Lake boys.

Softball

The Dalles 4, Mac-Hi 3:  Bailey LeBreton’s base hit in the bottom of the seventh inning drove in the winning run as the Riverhawks finished the season with a win.  Kilee Hoylman led off the inning with a double, and LeBreton’s one-out single brought her home.  The Dalles finishes the year with a 14-10 record.

Westview 10, Hood River Valley 0:  The Eagles lost to Wildcats in a tune-up game for next week’s state playoffs.

Baseball Summit at Hood River Valley rained out

The Port of Hood River announced Thursday repair work on the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge was completed a week ahead of schedule, and the remaining nighttime closures of the bridge have been cancelled.  Contract crews from Abhe & Svoboda completed all repairs to the bridge portal frame, rail post replacement, hand rail pipe replacement, rocker bearing modifications, stringer connection modifications, floorbeam knee brace repairs, bottom chord slice repairs, and other miscellaneous steel repairs, with final punch list items completed on Wednesday night.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee expressed thanks to all for their patience and cooperation during the project, acknowledging the closures created long detours and serious delays for many commuters, shippers, and businesses that rely on the bridge.  He added the nighttime closures enabled them to avoid months of daytime closures extending into summer and the fruit harvest season.