Votes counted Tuesday night in the April 28 special election in western Klickitat County show Skyline Health’s levy lid lift request is being approved by just under 53 percent of voters. The first count has 1,534 votes approving the request by the Skyline Health Board of Commissioners to increase the hospital district’s regular property tax levy rate to 75 cents per $1000 of assessed value beginning in 2027, while 1,364 were against. Under Washington state law, public hospital districts are authorized to levy regular property taxes at a rate of up to 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed value for purposes of operating and maintaining healthcare facilities and services. Because state law limits the amount that taxes can increase without voter approval, Skyline Health’s levy rate has declined over the years to approximately 46 cents in 2026. The district board said the levy will provide additional operating and capital funds to support the delivery of hospital and other health care services. An updated vote count is planned for Thursday.
Pool Measure On May 19 Ballot
The Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District is asking voters in the May 19 election for a $40.36 million bond measure to rebuild the Hood River Valley Aquatic Center, and a five-year operations levy that would generate $1.06 million annually. The estimated property tax rate for the bond would be 64 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value, while the levy rate would be 33 cents per thousand. District Board President Christy Christopher says the bond measure is of a much narrower scope than a previous attempt in 2024, devoted to rebuilding the pool. The operations levy would provide for more maintenance of parks and trails, sustained pool hours and programs, and continuance of the district’s community recreation programs.
TD Council Changing Non-Profit Funding Program
The City of The Dalles is making changes to its local agency and non-profit funding request program, removing evaluation of individual applications from the budget process. Under the revisions, the budget committee would set the total amount of funds that would be available for the program for that fiscal year. City Manager Matthew Klebes says then they would take applications and start an evaluation process. Key components to qualify for funding include eligibility requirements focused on project-based funding within City limits, a clear distinction between eligible and ineligible expenses, defined funding range guidance and encouragement of matching funds, required attachments including a standardized project budget, and structured application sections addressing project scope, community benefit, alignment with City priorities, feasibility, and sustainability. The materials emphasize that funding is intended for specific projects that provide measurable community benefit, and not ongoing operational support.
April 28 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Hood River Valley 6, Milwaukie 3: Tyson Harjo drove in a pair of runs while Kingston McAdam and Bodie Stuben each had a pair of hits as the Eagles won their ninth straight game and stayed unbeaten in the Northwest Oregon Conference. Four Eagle pitchers combined to throw a four-hitter.
LaCenter 16, Columbia 0
Kalama 4, Stevenson 2 (8 innings): The Chinooks scored two runs in the top of the eighth to grab the win. Parker Langel had two hits and an RBI for Stevenson.
Stanfield 7, Sherman 6: Stanfield scored two in the top of the seventh inning to pull out the win after the Huskies had tallied four in the bottom of the sixth.
Softball
Hood River Valley 9, Milwaukie 3: Gracyn Hanshaw had three hits and three runs batted in, while Addi Van Metre also had three hits and stole four bases. Kenadie Lucas struck out 12 while pitching a complete game.
Columbia 19, LaCenter 14: Julia Mullinix three doubles, a home run, and drove in six runs as the Bruins won a wild Trico League game. The two teams combined for 17 runs in the seventh inning, as CHS tallied nine in the top of the frame, before the Wildcats answered with eight.
Kalama 10, Stevenson 0
Boys Tennis
Hood River Valley 4, Canby 4
Boys Golf
Hood River Valley finished fifth at a Northwest Oregon Conference Tourney at Heron Lakes. Aksel Betz finished sixth and Wyatt Bahn eighth for Hood River Valley.
Girls Golf
The Dalles topped Riverdale and Molalla at The Dalles Country Club. Riverhawk senior Elliott Winwood topped the field.
Boys Lacrosse
Lincoln 10, Hood River Valley 7
Boys Volleyball
Central Catholic def. Hood River Valley 25-17, 25-21, 25-12
DeLaSalle North Catholic def. The Dalles 3-1
City of HR Moves Forward With Revolving Loan Program For Homes
The Hood River City Council voted to move forward with a Moderate Income Revolving Loan program created by the state with the intent to expand housing for households earning up to 120% of median income. An eligible housing development can receive a grant amount up to the estimated new property taxes it will generate over a specific period. Urban Renewal Administrator Will Norris presented program rules to the Council noting they were designed to be simple and low cost to administer. Big River Community Land Trust is expected to be the first applicant, for its proposed housing development on Avalon Way.
TD Council Approves More For First Street Archaeological Monies
The Dalles City Council approved an additional amount not to exceed $146,804 for monitoring of the First Street project for archaeological discoveries. City Community Development Director Joshua Chandler says with four archaeological sites in the project area, there are very strict requirements from the state for monitoring, and to keep the project moving on schedule they needed more monitoring than an original $400,000 budget put in for it. Under Council questioning about what kind of legal risk the City would face if they didn’t do the additional monitoring, City Attorney Jonathan Kara said it would be significant. Nicholas Smits from Archaeological Investigations Northwest, which is under contract for the monitoring, says they have frequently found artifacts during excavation on the western half of the First Street project while not finding much to the east, and will continue to adjust and reduce monitoring where possible.
TD Council Asks For Better Signage Around Webber Construction
The Dalles City Council asked staff to improve signage and communication directing access to the Port area as construction continues on the Westside Interceptor project at Webber Street. The topic came up after management of the Bargeway Pub reported a large drop in business when Webber was recently fully closed, adding during times when Webber had one lane open with flaggers, that allowed customers to access them. But Webber will be fully closed when crews begin to dig into the roadway. Councilor Tim McGlothlin said it’s important to improve the signage for all the businesses in that area. City Manager Matthew Klebes said they would look at better ways to deploy signage. He did note the goal has been to maintain two access routes to the Port area while multiple nearby construction projects are ongoing.
Rock Creek Burn Planned For Thursday
Mt. Hood National Forest plans to begin its annual prescribed fire operations on the Barlow Ranger District as early as Thursday. Firefighters are targeting up to 300 acres for prescribed fire this spring. Underburning is planned about five miles west of Wamic off Forest Road 48 in the Irrigation burn unit of the Rock Creek prescribed fire project. For both safety and effectiveness, prescribed fires are carefully planned and only implemented under specific conditions. Forest staff will evaluate conditions in the hours before a burn begins. Scheduled burning activities may be postponed or canceled, depending on factors such as weather, fuel moisture, and air quality. Firefighters will remain on site and continue patrols until the fire is declared out. Residents or visitors may experience smoke during prescribed burning operations. The Rock Creek prescribed fire project is part of the Rocky Restoration Project, which aims to improve landscape resilience to disease and fire in addition to improving habitat for the plants, fish, and wildlife species that depend on it.
April 27 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
The Dalles 8, Madras 7: The Riverhawks had to hold on as the White Buffaloes scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and had runners at first and second with nobody out, but a line drive double play and a strike out by Gunner Bustos ended the ball game. Evan Ortega and Cannon Stocks drove in two runs each for The Dalles.
Softball
The Dalles 15, Madras 0: Morgan Donivan doubled, homered twice, and drove in five runs to lead the Riverhawks. Ava Graves also had three hits, one of them a two-run triple.
Boys Golf
The Dalles’ Andrew Westin shot a five-over-par 77 to finish sixth at the Seaside Invitational at Astoria Golf Club. The Riverhawks finished ninth as a team.
Girls Golf
Hood River Valley finished fourth in a Northwest Oregon Conference Tourney at Heron Lakes. Bella Howe was the top Eagle finisher in tenth.
Boys Volleyball
Central Christian def. The Dalles 25-11, 25-12, 25-23
April 24-25 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Heppner sweeps Sherman 16-3 and 24-7
Track and Field
Hood River Valley’s Diyora Khudoidodova finished second in the girls’ high jump to highlight the local effort at the Nike/Jesuit Relays. The Dalles had eighth place finishes from Willow Ziegnhagen in the girls’ javelin and Evelyn Rogers in the girls’ shot put.
Lyle-Wishram’s Ezekiel Marble won the boys’ 110 meter hurdles and was second in the 300 meter hurdles while Anthony Avila was second in the one mile at the Naches Valley Invitational
Sherman’s Chloe Simpson won the girls’ high jump and was second in the triple jump at the Carnival of Speed in Milton-Freewater.
Horizon Christian’s Milo Bielen won the boys’ shot put at the Portland Christian Invitational.
South Wasco’s Jason Hull was second in both boys’ hurdles races at the Perrydale Invitational.
Boys Soccer
Columbia 2, Seton Catholic 1: The Bruins moved into first place by one point over LaCenter in the Trico League.
King’s Way Christian 1, Stevenson 0
Girls Lacrosse
Hood River Valley 16, Lincoln 9
Girls Flag Football
Mountain View 51, The Dalles 8