A majority of the Hood River City Council indicated their current preference for a bond measure to take to voters next year would be a package that would include funding for a renovation of the police department headquarters at City Hall, a new public works building, money for land for affordable housing, and Safe Routes to School projects. City staff was looking for direction as they prepare to more fully develop a proposal and have polling conducted to determine if the voting public is of the same view. Mayor Paul Blackburn pointed out that what the Council may want might differ from the public. There was some discussion about whether to include helping Mid-Columbia Community Action establish a permanent shelter location in Hood River, either through funds that would be earmarked for affordable housing or some other area. Councilor Grant Polson noted the polling they receive from a professional firm should provide a multi-varied analysis on what citizens would prioritize for a bond measure.
WAGAP Puts Out Report For 2024
The 2024 Annual Report for Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) is now available to the public following approval by the board of directors during a recent meeting. The Community Action Agency has served Skamania and Klickitat counties since 1966, supporting low-income families to improve their quality of life. WAGAP Executive Director Jennifer Pauletto says last year the organization served 6,996 families, including 14,513 individuals, through its programs. Nearly 17,000 food boxes were distributed, over 800 homes received energy assistance, and volunteers gave over 5,000 hours of their time. WAGAP maintained a healthy balance sheet with over $8 million in income, including in-kind revenue, and expenses were held to just under $7.1 million. Income sources include Federal, State, and local grants, fundraising, earned revenue, and in-kind donations. WAGAP includes a Food Bank Network, housing programs, emergency assistance, shelter programs, domestic violence support, and energy assistance programs, combined with care coordination, family resource centers, civic engagement, and youth programs, to support residents in need with resources and tailored assistance.
Great ShakeOut Is Thursday
Thursday is Great ShakeOut day, when emergency officials throughout the Northwest and around the country test their preparedness for an earthquake and remind citizens to be ready as well. For the Pacific Northwest, the eventuality of a Cascadia Fault earthquake is top of mind. But Hood River County Emergency Management Director Charles Young points out there are other earthquake possibilities as well, with a 35-mile long fault to the west of the County discovered just a few years ago. Young says there is a simple piece of advice to follow during an earthquake: drop to the ground, find something to be under, and hold on. Many emergency agencies will be sending out test alerts Thursday morning at 10:16.
Wasco County Burn Ban To Be Lifted Friday
Fire districts in Wasco County and the Oregon Department of Forestry have agreed to lift Wasco County’s seasonal burn ban this Friday, to coincide with ODF terminating fire season in its Central Oregon District at the same time. ODF Fire Managers and the Wasco County Fire Chiefs remind residents that they need to read the burn permit issued to them to ensure that burning is allowed on a given day, and to follow all instructions after obtaining any necessary permits. Wind is a big factor that can affect the spread of fire from debris piles into vegetation adjacent to a burn pile, or embers that the wind blows into nearby dry vegetation. Watch the weather forecasts and ensure you have a fire safe area cleared around your pile, with water and tools readily available. Monitor your pile until it has consumed and is completely out cold, as unattended piles can hold residual heat and rekindle. As an alternative to burning, Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, through grant funding from the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office, is funding free yard debris disposal at The Dalles Disposal Transfer Station for residents of the district on Saturdays in November.
White Salmon School Board Discussion On K-12 Campus Next Week
The White Salmon Valley School District Board will publicly discuss next week financial details for a proposed renovation of the current middle and high school campus to become a K-12 facility. Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says he has a meeting scheduled later this week with a financial analyst from the Southwest Washington Educational Services District who has been helping develop projections for the project, and should from that meeting have a more formal estimate. He did say the rough estimate has been $110 million to do the unified campus, but he also points out that a K-12 campus opens up more state matching funding possibilities. The district has been targeting putting a bond measure on the February 2026 ballot.
Community Meeting On Projects In The Dalles On October 30
The City of The Dalles will host a Community Informational Meeting on October 30 at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall. The meeting will provide updates on three upcoming City projects: the Federal Street Plaza, the Westside Interceptor – Phase 2 project, and the First Street Streetscaping project. City staff will provide project overviews, construction timelines, and details on what to expect during construction, including traffic patterns, parking changes, and access. City officials say the meeting is intended to inform business and property owners, residents, and others who work, shop, or visit downtown about project impacts and progress. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask clarifying questions. Project updates will be posted online at www.thedalles.org/DTprojects, and staff contact information will be provided during the meeting for additional questions.
October 14 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Volleyball
Hood River Valley def. Centennial 26-24, 11-25, 17-25, 25-14, 15-13
LaCenter def. Stevenson 25-14, 25-11, 25-11
Dufur def. Lyle-Wishram 25-10, 25-11, 25-12
Bickleton def. Horizon Christian 25-20, 25-18, 25-21
Sherman def. Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 25-18, 25-17, 22-25, 25-17
Boys Soccer
Centennial 3, Hood River Valley 1
Girls Soccer
Hood River Valley 1, Centennial 0
Fort Vancouver 3, Columbia 1
LaCenter 4, Stevenson 1
HR County Prepares To Do Organizational & Fiscal Sustainability Analysis
Hood River County is planning to carry out a review of its 2022 Organizational Assessment and a fiscal sustainability analysis. The County is planning to contract with the firm Baker Tilly to do the work. County Administrator Allison Williams explains with a number of new department heads in the County, how they might organize is a bit different than it was just a few years ago, but most importantly this study will examine the County’s fiscal future. The County will receive options to address fiscal gaps which include expenditure controls and cost shifts, service delivery model changes, revenue enhancements and service delivery reductions The County Commission will consider approving the contract with Baker Tilly at their meeting this Monday.
TD Council Approves Ordinance Revisions
The Dalles City Council unanimously approved revisions to the City’s public nuisance ordinance for the first time in 27 years. City Manager Jonathan Kara said the goal was to make the rules fairer and easier to apply for residents, business, and staff, with a goal for the City to stop harm quickly with the lightest effective tool. The changes more clearly define who is responsible for a property, expand how an incident can be proven beyond just arrests or citations, and shortens the look-back period for patterns of behavior from 12 months to six. Mayor Rich Mays says the ordinance revisions should provide more options to reach resolutions. Kara said City staff will track outcomes as a result of the ordinance changes, and come back in 12 months.
Two Juveniles Found After Leaving NORCOR
The Dalles Police Department found a pair of juveniles who fled from the juvenile portion of the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility. A statement from The Dalles Police Department indicated it received the call that the two juveniles were missing from NORCOR on Sunday. They had been at NORCOR to participate in programs through an Oregon Youth Authority contract for services, and were not in secure detention at the time of their unauthorized departure. TDPD officers located the juveniles in the community and both fled when confronted. Officers recovered one shortly after they fled and the other several hours later. Both were returned to the Wasco County Juvenile Department and have since been relocated out of the county to other service providers.