Local News
WS Schools File Bond Measure Paperwork
The White Salmon Valley School District has filed the paperwork to place a nearly seven million dollar bond measure on the April 23 ballot. District Superintendent Jerry Lewis says the assessment should be similar to what it has been for their current bond measure, and perhaps down a bit thanks to growth in the area. Lewis says they have about ten projects planned through this bond, ranging from a portable for the district’s health and wellness center to parking lot revisions for safety and a multi-purpose facility.
February 19 Prep Basketball Roundup
Boys Basketball
Hood River Valley 66, The Dalles 57: HRV withstood a late challenge from the Riverhawks to win their eighth straight game. German Diaz scored 22 points while Carson Flores added 17 and Noah Webster 11 to lead the Eagles. Josh Nisbet scored 30 points to pace The Dalles, while Jacob Hernandez tallied 15. The Dalles plays Ridgeview in the first round of Intermountain Conference tournament on Thursday at 5:30 in Kurtz Gym, while Hood River awaits a semi-final game against an opponent to be determined on Saturday at 4:30 at Vannet Court.
Girls Basketball
The Dalles 50, Hood River Valley 24: The Riverhawks used a 21-point first half run to take control of the game. Ellie Codding scored 11 points for The Dalles while Jenna Miller and Raine Codding scored 10 apiece. The Dalles hosts Crook County in an MHC tournament first round game Thursday at 7 p.m., while Hood River Valley visits Pendleton at 6:30 p.m.
Oregon Class 1A Boys Basketball Playoffs
First Round
Sherman 66, North Clackamas Christian 44: Luke Martin led a group of four Huskies with 17 points. Caleb Fritts scored 16, Keenan Coles 13, and Wade Fields 12. Sherman will host Siletz Valley in the second round on Friday at 6 p.m.
Dufur 39, Joseph 31: The Rangers held Joseph scoreless in the second quarter on the way to the win. Cooper Bales and Trey Darden scored 11 points apiece for Dufur. The Rangers visit Prairie City on Friday at 6 p.m. for a second round game.
Horizon Christian had a bye in round one, and will host Crosshill Christian in round two on Friday at 7 p.m.
Mosbrucker Looking To Get Domestic Violence Bills Through
The Washington Legislature is nearing a Friday deadline for policy bills to be reported from committee. 14th District Representative Gina Mosbrucker has seventeen different bills she is trying to shepherd through, and the Goldendale Republican is putting an emphasis on three dealing with domestic violence, noting she has received a receptive audience this session.
One bill Mosbrucker has authored would develop posters to be placed in workplaces providing information on where those who are facing domestic violence can get help. Another would create a task force to identify the role of the workplace in helping curb domestic violence, and a third would have the Department of Social and Human Services develop educational literature on traumatic brain injury for victims of domestic violence.
February 18 Prep Sports Roundup
Monday Results
Boys Basketball
Hood River Valley 64, Crook County 52: The Eagles won their seventh straight game in playing for the first time in 11 days.
Girls Basketball
Crook County 56, Hood River Valley 45: Liz Barker scored 21 points to lead the Cowgirls, who scored the first eight points of the game and never trailed. Bailey Frazier led Hood River with 13 points.
Today’s Schedule
Girls and Boys Basketball
The Dalles at Hood River Valley, girls at 5:30 p.m., boys will play second game.
Oregon Class 1A Boys Basketball Playoffs
First Round
North Clackamas Christian at Sherman, 6 p.m.
Dufur at Joseph, 6 p.m.
Port of HR Rescheduling Retreat; Future Is A Topic
The Port of Hood River Commission will reschedule its retreat after it was postponed from last weekend due to weather conditions. It will probably be held sometime next week. One of the topics to be discussed is what the Port will become after a new Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge is constructed. Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says the bridge represents two-thirds of its total revenue, even though much of it goes back into the bridge it provides funding for other needs. McElwee points out only two percent of the Port’s revenue comes from its property tax base.
School Board Urge Lawmakers To Invest More In Education
School boards across Oregon are urging lawmakers to invest more in education. At least 28 boards have passed resolutions calling on the Legislature to make big increases in funding. State funding for schools is about nine percent below the national average and Oregon’s graduation rate is 78 percent – second-worst in the nation. Carrie Douglass with the Bend-LaPine School Board says the lack of adequate funds stretches schools thin, with teachers sometimes buying their own supplies or doing tasks outside of their already demanding jobs. The Joint Committee on Student Success released a report last month laying out education priorities and fixes that would cost an estimated three-billion dollars. Governor Kate Brown also outlined a two-billion-dollar boost in funding. The state’s public pension program is likely on the agenda as well, but Douglass hopes that conversation doesn’t derail the push for education funding at the Capitol.
YouthThink Plans Spring Speaker Series
YouthThink of Wasco County is planning a series of presentations by four nationally known speakers to talk about promoting the safety of children and increasing the effectiveness of parents and others. Debby Jones of YouthThink says this is the highest level group of speakers they’ve ever brought into the area, and it’s titled Protecting Young Minds and Bodies. Topics will include screen time, online predators, pornography, and the influence of alcohol and drugs on performance. The series will begin on Monday, March 18 with Dr. Dimitri Christakis of Seattle Children’s Hospital on “Screen Time and the Developing Brain.” It will begin at 6 p.m. at The Dalles Middle School. For more information, go to youththink.net.
February 16-17 Prep Sports Roundup
Southwest Washington Class 1A Girls Basketball Tournament
Elma 73, Stevenson 40
LaCenter 52, Stevenson 37
Big Sky Conference Basketball Tournament at Madras
Boys
Semi-Finals
Horizon Christian 53, Arlington 48
Sherman 38, Dufur 30
Finals
Third Place: Dufur 41, Arlington 38….The Rangers visit Joseph in a first round state playoff game on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Championship: Horizon Christian 45, Sherman 35…The Hawks get a first round bye in the state playoffs and will play at home on Friday after beating the Huskies for the first time in three meetings this season. Sherman will host North Clackamas Christian in the first round on Tuesday.
Girls
Semi-Finals
South Wasco 50, Dufur 29
Echo 47, Ione 32
Finals
Third Place: Ione 45, Dufur 29
Championship: South Wasco 44, Echo 41: The Redsides will host a second round game in the Oregon Class 1A playoffs on Saturday.
Wrestling
Friday and Saturday
Goldendale’s Dustin Dodge finished 2nd in the Class 1A 160 pound division to highlight the area effort at the Washington Mat Classic in Tacoma. Dodge won four straight by fall, including coming out on top of Erik Acala of Chelan in 1:10 in the semi-final, before losing to Trevor Morrison of Colville 6-0 in the final
Hailey Johnson of Columbia reached the semi-finals before finishing fourth in the girls’ 120 pound division.
Swimming
Hood River Valley’s Chad Klaas and Sarah Arpag each placed in two events at the Oregon Class 5A Swimming Championship at Tualatin Hills. Klaas was third in the boys’ 50 freestyle and fourth in the 100 butterfly. Arpag was fourth in the girls’ 100 backstroke and fifth in the girls’ 100 butterfly. Faith Ocheskey was fourth in the girls’ 100 freestyle, and HRV’s girls were fifth in the girls’ 400 freestyle relay.
February 14 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Greater Columbia League Basketball Tournament at Goldendale
Boys Semi-Final
Yakama Tribal 79, Trout Lake 67
Girls Semi-Final
Yakama Tribal 75, Trout Lake 73
Southwest Washington Class 1A Girls Basketball Tournament
First Round
Stevenson 61, Tenino 53: The Bulldogs play Elma at Hoquiam February 15 at 6 p.m.
Southwest Washington Class 1A Boys Basketball Tournament
Second Round
Hoquiam 68, Stevenson 57
Big Sky Conference Basketball Tournament at Madras
Friday
Boys
Horizon Christian vs. Arlington, 4:30 p.m.
Dufur vs. Sherman, 7:30 p.m.
Girls
Dufur vs. South Wasco, 3 p.m.
Echo vs. Ione, 6 p.m.
Wrestling
Friday and Saturday
Columbia, Goldendale, and Stevenson at Washington 1A Mat Classic in Tacoma.
Swimming
Friday and Saturday
Hood River Valley at Oregon 5A Championships at Tualatin Hills
February 18 Delay
South Wasco County School District on two-hour delay.