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Articles by Caleb Lundquist
Summit Ridge: Supreme Court ruling terminates two windfarm project expansions in Gorge
On Aug. 1, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled in favor of a coalition of nine conservation organizations, led by the Friends of the Columbia Gorge, invalidating rules adopted in 2017 by the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC). The decision is expected to invalidate two, among others, controversial power projects — the Perennial Wind Chaser Station in Umatilla County and the Summit Ridge Wind Farm in Wasco County.
An Equestrian Experience
It was a hot day. Long and luring, the Columbia shimmers, the sunlight dancing along its face like a cascade of diamonds. To the river is not where I’m heading on this day, though it’s refreshing embrace is longed for. Instead, I take a winding Country Club road out to Post Canyon Drive and pull into a small horse farm. I spot a few of the animals grazing inside expansive pens, their coats rippling with each movement, the sheer muscle mass evident from the driveway.
Bailey Strong: In name and spirit
The great athletes of sports are revered in part for their athletic prowess; the results of genetic abilities and endless training combined are often unbelievable. These achievements are relative, however, and we are periodically reminded of that fact across the escalating levels of physical competition.
Wind project draws fire
More than a dozen citizens asked the Wasco County Commission April 3 not to submit a letter of support it wrote for the Summit Ridge wind project east of Dufur. The commission opted to table the matter. The commission had written the letter on behalf of the owner of the Summit Ridge turbine project to Puget Sound Energy, a Washington-based utility whose role as a power-purchaser in the project is key to its development. The project was first applied for 10 years ago.
Eagles' Girls Golf focused on growth
The lush green grass of the tee box sports its traditional buzz cut, offering its smooth, unruffled surface to the next golfer. A crowd slowly gathers around the box, a collection of students and coaches, a few supportive parents. They murmur among one another, a quiet collection of commentary awaiting the first shot. With a short, purposeful breath, a young woman removes a driver from her bag, palms a ball and tee in hand, and climbs the short mound to the tee box.
Maupin gets connected
With the completion of a $2 million high-density fiber optic broadband network, the rural community of Maupin is now among the state’s most competitive when it comes to internet access. The network can provide speeds of 1 gigabit per second (gbps) per customer—the fastest broadband service available in the Pacific Northwest—vastly improving the city’s economic and educational opportunities.
Eagles Baseball wins at home, loses on the road
Hood River Valley High School’s Baseball team split its games against La Salle and Lake Oswego on back-to-back days this week. At home on Tuesday, the Eagles scraped past La Salle 6-5, while at Lake Oswego, they lost 6-1. Tuesday’s outing saw the Eagles playing it patient at the plate as they tallied 11 walks. The hits weren’t numerous for HRV (five total), but they took advantage when they had runners in scoring position, chipping away at the 4-0 lead La Salle established early on.
Hood River skier asking for public support
Tucker FitzSimons, a 2016 HRVHS graduate, has been selected as a semi-finalist in Level 1 Productions’ SuperUnknown XVI video competition. SuperUnknown is a free-ski video talent search contest begun in 2004 as a way to provide talented skiers a chance to gain exposure, sponsorship and a shot at filming with Level 1 Productions. The aim of the contest is to provide an alternate route to exposure outside of traditional competition. Each year, Level 1 selects nine finalists and 16 semifinalists.
Hawks advance to quarterfinals in state
The Horizon Christian Hawks advanced to the quarterfinals of the 1A state playoffs on Friday night, when they defeated the Crosshill Christian Eagles 49-43 at home in a hard-fought and physical game. The game began at a crawling pace, with both teams employing effective zone defenses, limiting each other’s offense to rapid passing and outside shots.
New park equipment, swim passes planned
Contributed photo Metal structures will replace the exercise and stretching equipment currently located along the walking/running path on the south side of Sorosis Park in The Dalles, pictured above. Replacement is anticipated to begin this spring. The Northern Wasco County Parks and Recreation District (NWCPRD) will be updating programs and parks this spring with new exercise equipment planned at Sorosis Park and a swim pass program for individuals and families on the Oregon Health Plan.
Horizon doubles down in victory
Photo by Kirby Neumann-Rea Horizon defenders swarm the paint and box out opponents as a Dufur player pulls up for a shot during Friday’s game. The Horizon Christian Boys Basketball team had a victorious weekend as they took care of business Friday and Saturday with wins over the Dufur Rangers (57-42) and the South Wasco County Redside (47-41). The Hawks improved to 12-1 in the league after the weekend.
HRV Girls Wrestling qualify three for state
Photo provided by Trent Kroll Eagles of the HRV Girls Wrestling team pose with their second place trophy. The Hood River Valley High School Wrestling teams both took second place at their respective tournaments, the boys competing at the White Buffalo Invite in Madras and the girls at the OSAA North Regional Championship in Hillsboro. The girls finished with 123 points between eight competitors in their weekend effort at the district meet.
Gorge Roller Girls battle at Fort Dalles
Caleb Lundquist photo Members of the Gorge Roller Girls ‘Blood & Gorge’ team battle against Storm City in a tense bout on Jan. 26. The roller derby match between the Gorge Roller Girls and the Storm City Roller Girls at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center last Saturday drew fans from around the Gorge. The Gorge Roller Girls are in their second season of play with the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), an international organization with over 400 active leagues.
The Bakers: Sisters in Sports
Photo by Caleb Lundquist Haylee and Morgan Baker: Sisters on the HRV girls varsity basketball team. One is a sophomore, new to the varsity level but fearless on the court and passionate about helping her team win. The other is a senior, experienced and confident with the ball in hand, reading the defense and guiding her teammates with smart play calls. On the court they are just teammates, numbers 1 and 21, but they share a bond that goes beyond basketball: Haylee and Morgan Baker are sisters.
Hawks lose undefeated record
The Horizon Christian Hawks lost 70-56 to the Sherman County Huskies on Tuesday night at Sherman. The loss broke the Hawks’ prefect league record and put them at 10-1 on the year as of publication, while Sherman retained their undefeated league record of 11-0. A rough night of shooting plagued Horizon’s offense as they shot 37.5 percent from the field; Sherman’s percentage was 53.1 percent. The Hawks also were 43 percent from the free throw line, compared to the Huskies’ 70 percent.
Grit and Grace: The Essence of Roller Derby
Photo by Caleb Lundquist Players pack in full force as both teams attempts to block the other’s jammer during an intense match. Last Saturday, The Dalles Readiness Center was packed with fans from throughout the Gorge community, all gathered to watch the roller derby match between the Gorge Roller Girls and the Storm City Roller Girls.
HRV Girls Basketball loses to Redmond
Photo by Caleb Lundquist Sisters Morgan (right) and Haylee (left) Baker set up a play for the Eagles offense during Thursday’s game. The Eagles had a tough showing at home Thursday night when they faced the Redmond Panthers and were defeated 58-43. The game started off with strong showings by both teams. The Panthers used their size advantage and quick passing to score down low, while the Eagles took advantage of some fast break opportunities to put in a few points of their own.
Robinson becomes a Bronco
Photo provided by David Robinson Jamie Robinson gives two thumbs up after signing her letter of intent to Santa Clara University; coach and father David Robinson and coach Kellie Dunn flank Jamie at her signing. Jamie Robinson, a senior at Hood River Valley High School and avid water polo player, signed a letter of intent Friday to attend Santa Clara University, a private institution in Santa Clara, Calif.
Eagles are tournament champions
Photo provided by Trent Kroll Champions of the Oregon Classic tournament, the HRV Girls Wrestling team and coaches strike the #1 pose while proudly displaying their plaque. The Hood River Valley Girls Wrestling team took home the championship trophy at the Oregon Classic Dual Meet State Championships last Saturday at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond. This meet is not to be confused with the state championship meet occurring Feb. 22 and 23.
Horizon remains undefeated
Photo by Kirby Neumann-Rea Senior Derek Johnston looks for a teammate to pass to in a previous game against Trinity Lutheran. The Horizon Hawks survived the weekend with a pair of wins, taking their league record to a perfect 8-0 on the season. The threat to that perfection came during their Friday home game against Condon/Wheeler, which ended with a score of 57-53. “It was a good game,” said coach Darrin Lingel.
Skiing hits the slopes
Photo provided by HRV Nordic Ski Team Racers of the Hood River Valley Nordic Ski Team pose for a photo during the Teacup Classic last Saturday. The season of skiing has arrived, and in fact has been underway for over a month now. Teams have dusted off their skis and snow boots, events have been organized and races have been run. The Cooper Spur Alpine Team, Hood River Valley Nordic Ski Team and Meadows Race Team have all begun their competitive seasons and held events last weekend.
Sarah Arpag: Sailor, Swimmer, Star
As the last race concludes, she shifts her weight back and forth in anticipation. The shrill of a whistle pierces her concentration as she’s splashed with water from the previous contender exiting the pool. She hears the call to marks, and ascends her block. Atop her mantle, she looks to each of her competitors; little are they aware of what is to come. Her gaze turns out across the water. A sigh escapes her and she shivers, the last of her nerves twitching away and confidence steeling over.
Swim clubs clash on Sunday
Photo by Caleb Lundquist Called to set are the next heat of athletes for another race during Sunday’s club meet. A total of 111 athletes raced this past Sunday at the club swim meet hosted by the Hood River Valley Swim Team at the Hood River Aquatic Center. Three clubs — The Dalles Swim Team, Vancouver Swim Club and Hood River — came together for a fierce but fun day of competition, with kids of all ages partaking in the array of races ranging from 25 to 1,650 meters.
Hawks crush Cardinals
The Horizon Hawks destroyed the Ione Cardinals 52-33 on the road Saturday, improving to 9-3 overall and 6-0 in league. It wasn’t as high scoring as the Hawks are used to, but the scoring was spread well across the team. Sophomore Caleb Lingel led the offensive effort with 17 points, but he was the only one in double digits. Both teams shot poorly from the field, with the Cardinals at 27 percent and the Hawks at 33 percent.
Eagles prevail over Pendleton
Photo by Caleb Lundquist Junior Noah Webster leaps high for the tip off to give the Eagles the first possession of Friday’s game. In what’s becoming their typical exciting, nerve-racking style, the HRV boys basketball team defeated the Pendleton Buckaroos 77-67 at home last Friday to open the regular season. Stumbling at the start, the Eagles struggled to score against Pendleton’s tough zone defense.
Eagles swim strong
Photo by Shelly Rawding HRV’s Abby McCormack, Sarah Arpag and Campbell Keller. The Eagles handed the Ridgeview Ravens a defeat in both girls and boys swimming on Thursday at the Hood River Aquatic Center, with the girls winning 129-26 and the boys 75-44. With those victories, the girls team improves to 6-1 on the year while the boys are 2-4-1, with the tie coming against Centennial. Leading Hood River with double wins were Luke Southall, Sarah Arpag, Faith Ocheskey, Chad Klaas and Celilo Brun.
Eagles host Australia
Photo by Caleb Lundquist Gifts are exchanged between Hood River and Australian players prior to the cultural exchange exhibition game. The HRV Girls held a cultural exchange game on Tuesday when they hosted a team of all-star players from Melbourne, Australia. The game was scheduled as part of a series of games the Melbourne team is playing in the state; they had played in The Dalles the night before.
Hawks hold off Dufur
Horizon Christian traveled to Dufur last Friday and took the win with a 70-57 score. Though the game was close through the first half, Horizon continued to outscore Dufur each quarter by a few points, which stacked up and gave them the 13 point victory at the final buzzer. Senior Derek Johnson led the Hawks with 25 points and nine rebounds, a near double-double. Johnson went three for four from deep and perfect from the free throw line, sinking six.
Eagles fall as Parkrose pulls away
Photo by Caleb Lundquist Hood River prepares to run an out of bounds play during the first quarter. HRV came out with a full squad last Friday when they hosted the Parkrose Broncos. The roster was not typical of their varsity lineup, but rather supplemented by a collection of willing, yet tired, freshmen and sophomore girls who just finished their junior varsity game. While the extra bodies helped and the Eagles fought to keep it close, they would fall to Parkrose 59-47 in a tough loss.
Swimming splits at home
Photo by Caleb Lundquist Down the home stretch goes Hood River’s Adam Burke as he takes first place in the 200m freestyle at Thursday’s home meet vs. Gresham. The Eagles swimming teams enjoyed a day of competition in the midst of their winter breaks, returning to the pool at Hood River Aquatic Center on Jan. 3 to take on the Gresham Gophers in a dual meet. The HRV boys lost a close battle 94-64, while the girls won handily 124-42.
HRV girls preview: A tough start, but promise ahead
The New Year marks a turning point for winter sports; the preseason wraps up and the regular season is on the horizon. Teams have practiced and trained for months at this point, adapting between losses and carrying momentum between wins. For the HRV girls basketball team, there’s a challenging season ahead, but still reason to hope. “It’s definitely been a challenging preseason,” said coach Donnie Herneisen.
HRV basketball previews
A record of 5-4 through the preseason may not have been ideal for the HRV boys basketball team, but it has left quite a lot to be excited for come regular season play. With key players Carson Flores, Noah Webster and German Diaz performing consistently at high level, the Eagles are slowly proving themselves as a formidable opponent. “The key to making that strong play more consistent is to bring the right mindset every day,” said coach Chris Dirks.
HRV boys preview: Gaining momentum
A record of 5-4 through the preseason may not have been ideal for the HRV boys basketball team, but it has left quite a lot to be excited for come regular season play. With key players Carson Flores, Noah Webster and German Diaz performing consistently at high level, the Eagles are slowly proving themselves as a formidable opponent. “The key to making that strong play more consistent is to bring the right mindset every day,” said coach Chris Dirks.
Eagles hold out Hudson’s
Caleb Lundquist Noah Webster holds the pose as he watches his second free throw sink into the hoop, giving the Eagles two points towards Thursday’s win. The HRV Boys Basketball team hosted Hudson’s Bay last Thursday, in a close game wherein the Eagles held on for a narrow 64-61 victory. An important win for the Eagles, this game was wild through and through, with stretches of stalled possessions and chaotic minutes passing in sporadic succession.
Week’s Recap
Photo by Kirby Neumann-Rea Senior German Diaz kicks the ball out to an open teammate after driving during HRV’s home game against Centennial. Here’s a rundown of the local sporting events that occurred over the last week. The HRV boys basketball team improved to 4-4 on the year with their 75-68 win at home over Centennial on Dec. 21. It was a close game and a strong win for the Eagles, who have gone 4-2 in their last six games as they prepare for the regular season coming in the New Year.
Flores and Webster: The X Factors
One exhibits a constant display of dazzling finesse and style with the basketball. He drives past opponents who leap in anticipation, yearning to swat him away in a statement of defiant defense. As they ascend, he sneaks under them, swinging his arm wide and curling his fingers to award the perfect spin that will seal the reverse layup. It was art, pure and simple, and the effortless nature with which he performed only served to accentuate its beauty.
Building new musical connections
Caleb Lundquist photo Gary Estep stands at the pipe organ in Zion Lutheran Church, 101 W. 10th St., The Dalles, where he seeks to transform the role of organist. The organ pipes, pictured separately, are located high above him.
HRV Athletes of the Month
Brinna Weiseth, Emily Curtis, Omar Quintana, Ben Routson, Brandon Bertram and Steve Noteboom. The votes are in for Hood River Valley High School’s athletes of the month for November, announced by athletic director Trent Kroll: Brinna Weiseth, cross country, freshman: 5A State Cross-Country and IMC runner-up, first team all-state and IMC. Contributing member to HRV XC girls state championship team.
HRV Girls hold off Gresham; HRV boys lose
Photo by Kirby Neumann-Rea Eagles' Kaitlyn McNerney is fouled on a putback against Gresham on Tuesday. The HRV girls basketball team claimed another victory Tuesday as they bested Gresham 48-42. The win marks the Eagles’ second in a row and on the season, after a rough 0-6 start. Coach Donnie Herneisen was impressed with the girls’ performance, though he did note the game was not flawless.
Girls Wrestling takes third
The HRV girls wrestling team competed well at the Liberty High School Girls 2018 Invitational, finishing third out of 33 teams with 141 team points. The impressive aspect of this placing is bolstered when considering the Eagles were competing with just nine athletes; a series of top finishes helped them clinch third place. Gracie McCafferty (100), Grace Miller (145) and Emily Mitchell (170) all placed first and scored 24, 30 and 30 points respectively.
HRV Girls clinch first victory
Montsie Garrido Senior Lizzie Weekly, shown in an earlier contest, was among the top Eagle scorers in its first win of the season. The HRV Girls basketball team defeated Reynolds on Dec. 14 with a score of 45-37. The victory marked the first of the season for the Eagles (1-6), who had struggled so far this year. “Always good to get that first win of the season, especially at home,” said coach Donnie Herneisen.
Eagles hold off Reynolds
Caleb Lundquist Junior guard Noah Webster readies his defense against a Reynolds player at Friday’s game. The HRV boys basketball team took home a close game against Reynolds on Dec. 14, with a final score of 67-60. It was a slow start for the Eagles, as they struggled to score against the Reynolds zone defense. “We have a few different zone offenses and we weren’t on the same page a few trips down the court,” said coach Chris Dirks.
HRV girls fall to Sandy; HRV boys beat at Sandy
HRV girls fall to Sandy; HRV boys beat at Sandy Montsie Garrido Eagle guard Morgan Baker, shown facing down a Milwaukie opponent, scored eight points in the loss at Sandy on Wednesday. The HRV girls basketball team fell to Sandy High School on Dec. 12, 55-33. While statistically competitive — HRV shot 33.3 percent from field goal range to Sandy’s 37.5 percent — the Eagles took just 23 shots to the Pioneers’ 47.
Burtons Say Goodbye
After 39 years of serving the Hood River community with dental work, Dr. Bruce Burton and his wife, Connie, are closing their offices and retiring. The Burtons’ time in Hood River began when Bruce visited with Connie’s family and fell in love with the region, and he took over the practice of a family member. “I took over for my wife’s grandfather, Dr. Warner Henderson, when I graduated from school,” said Bruce.
Hawks start league play with 29-point win at Echo
Hawks start league play with 29-point win at Echo Horizon guard Kai Robertson, shown during a home contest against Trinity Lutheran, had his strongest game of the young season, against Echo, leading the Hawks with 14 points. Horizon Christian snapped a two-game losing streak Tuesday, opening Big Sky Conference play with a 55-26 boys basketball road win at Echo. The Hawks (3-2 overall) fell behind 6-0 early before outscoring the Cougars 29-8 the rest of the first half.
HRV swim teams win home opener
HRV swim teams win home opener The HRVHS girls and boys swim teams both won their home opener on Dec. 6. The girls bested The Dalles Riverhawks with a 126-34 finish, the boys with a 99-35 finish over the same school. On the girls’ side, the Eagles were led by double first-place finishes of Sarah Arpag in the 200 and 100 free, Celilo Brun in the 400 free and 100 breast, and Faith Ocheskey in the 50 free and 100 back.
‘Christmas Bags’ to help homeless
‘Christmas Bags’ to help homeless By Caleb Lundquist, The Dalles Chronicle As of Friday, December 14, 2018 With Christmas just over a week away, The Dalles Community Meal organization is preparing for the numerous meals it serves over the holiday weeks... Get full access to The Dalles Chronicle! To subscribe and read the full version of this story please click here. If you are an active subscriber, click here to continue reading.
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