Yadier Ruiz, left, and Trenton Whitecotton, track laborers with the Mount Hood Railroad, at right, clean debris off the railroad tracks that cross the Hood River on Dec. 19. The workers said the river submerged the bridge overnight from the rain that hit the area from the most recent atmospheric river — which cased destruction Gorge-wide due to fallen trees, high winds, and flooding.Â
At top left, an aerial view of the Easy Rider and Daisy chairlifts on opening day, Dec. 23, at Mt. Hood Meadows, which was the resort’s latest opening on record.Â
At left, Amy Maddy and baby Montie, along with others, came in Packers apparel to support the farm stand at Hood River County’s Planning Commission meeting on Dec. 10, where the business sought exemptions to several conditions outlined in its farm stand permit. The room was full of people speaking on both sides of the issue, with supporters calling in from California and Kansas. A final hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11.Â
At bottom, the case for approving a 135-room Marriott hotel on the former Hood River News site was presented to Hood River Planning Commissioners on Dec. 1. The public hearing drew a capacity crowd to city hall, with Hood River Fire Station hosting overflow.Â
Yadier Ruiz, left, and Trenton Whitecotton, track laborers with the Mount Hood Railroad, at right, clean debris off the railroad tracks that cross the Hood River on Dec. 19. The workers said the river submerged the bridge overnight from the rain that hit the area from the most recent atmospheric river — which cased destruction Gorge-wide due to fallen trees, high winds, and flooding.Â
The case for approving a 135-room Marriott hotel on the former Hood River News site was presented to Hood River Planning Commissioners to begin the month on Dec. 1. The public hearing drew a capacity crowd to city hall, where commissioners questioned traffic flow and affordable housing, and public comment was mostly related to traffic and parking. The hearing was continued until Jan. 5 (after press deadline), when the applicants’ rebuttal will be heard.Â
At bottom, the case for approving a 135-room Marriott hotel on the former Hood River News site was presented to Hood River Planning Commissioners on Dec. 1. The public hearing drew a capacity crowd to city hall, with Hood River Fire Station hosting overflow.Â
Trisha Walker photo
A day later, several prominent local growers urged Oregon’s Department of Agriculture to create regulations with growers in mind, as the associated costs are eating away at their margins, among several other issues.
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson then issued his final approval on the Carriger Solar Project in Klickitat County Dec. 4. Ferguson rejected the application in August after it was initially approved by state’s Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) because of outstanding concerns raised by the several tribes, and the Yakama Nation remains opposed. The project involves 1,326 acres worth of solar panels, enough to power 32,500 homes. A few weeks prior, EFSEC held preliminary meetings across the Washington side of the Gorge for a different venture, one that may span from The Dalles to Portland, buried beneath Columbia River silt: the Cascade Renewable Transmission Project. Several Indigenous representatives expressed opposition at the meeting in White Salmon.
At left, Amy Maddy and baby Montie, along with others, came in Packers apparel to support the farm stand at Hood River County’s Planning Commission meeting on Dec. 10, where the business sought exemptions to several conditions outlined in its farm stand permit. The room was full of people speaking on both sides of the issue, with supporters calling in from California and Kansas. A final hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11.Â
Aziza Cooper-Hovland photo
More contentious public hearings followed. On Dec. 9, Skamania County commissioners voted to allow homes on about 400 acres of previously unmapped land, leaving the remaining 1,650 acres as commercial resource lands. The following day, Hood River County commissioners heard an appeal from Packer Orchards regarding its farm stand permit and seven conditions the operation viewed as burdensome. Commissioners pushed back any decision until Feb. 11.
The union at Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC), now 140 members strong, voted to sign a new three-year contract on Dec. 12, which CGCC’s Board of Education ratified on Dec. 16, after bargaining for the majority of this year.
Early on Wednesday, Dec. 17, strong winds ripped through the Gorge, downing power lines and trees, followed by the second atmospheric river in as many weeks that brought more rain to an already saturated landscape, causing rivers to swell and flooding some areas. Skamania, Wasco and Hood River counties all declared a state of emergency as a result. The windstorm and atmospheric river damaged homes, businesses and critical infrastructure, and overwhelmed sewer systems.
At top left, an aerial view of the Easy Rider and Daisy chairlifts on opening day, Dec. 23, at Mt. Hood Meadows, which was the resort’s latest opening on record.Â
Photo courtesy of Mt. Hood Meadows
Good news from the White Salmon Valley Pool Metropolitan Park District was reported: They had successfully secured more than $2.7 million in state grants, raised more than $150,000 in a community match campaign, and a total of more than $7 million in projected funding. In addition, the project had 100% complete construction documents and state health permit approval.
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