Part 1 of 2

JANUARY

Ayrianna Jade McVea was the come-from-behind winner in a three-way contest for the First Baby of 2008.

Her mother, Christina McVea, of Portland, delivered first on New Year’s Day out of three mothers in labor at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital. Christina and proud father Colton McVea welcomed the family’s fourth child at 1:53 p.m. on Jan. 1.

Hood River was named as one of 12 counties in a lawsuit initiated by opponents of Oregon’s new domestic partnership law. A federal judge was asked to determine if voter signatures were wrongfully rejected on a referendum.

Three signatures were tossed out of 21 listed on a petition to bring the issue before voters that had been filed in Hood River County. U.S. District Court Judge Michael Mosman dismissed the lawsuit in early February and local residents David Bender and John Wishart exercised their new right to a legal relationship.

Energy experts began predicting that the cost for a gallon of regular gasoline would climb as high as $3.80 by summer. In actuality, motorists ended up paying more than $4 per gallon during the peak travel season.

Yesenia Castro, 16, was chosen as the Outstanding Youth of the Year for 2008 by the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America.

Castro, who goes by Yesi, was a junior at Hood River Valley High School. She was selected for the award because of her active participation Si Se Peude (Yes We Can!), the Hispanic Outreach Prevention Coalition, the Hood River County Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Prevention Coalition and OSSOM (Operation Student Safety on the Move).

Law enforcement officials believed that a mid-January armed robbery in Corbett was tied to three similar incidents in the Gorge during December 2007. Two of the crime scenes were in Hood River County at locations near Interstate 84.

Residents and visitors were advised by authorities not to park in rest areas along the freeway during the night hours. According to reports, a masked man, dubbed the roadside robber, had brandished a gun and then demanded cash from his victims.

Hood River Mayor Linda Streich announced that she would not seek a third two-year term in office. Streich, who stepped down on Thursday, had served on the council since 1998.

Rep. Patti Smith, R-Corbett, also announced that she would leave the House District 52 position that she won in 2000.

Fruit growers from The Dalles and Hood River asked state officials to use “common sense” in establishing new labor housing rules.

About 100 orchardists attended a formal hearing at Rockford Grange sponsored by representatives from the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division. They requested several years to phase in stringent new federal housing guidelines. Area tree fruit growers wanted more time to prepare financially for improvements that included plumbing upgrades and installation of larger windows.

FEBRUARY

The Hood River County School District held the second of two public forums to discuss two bond proposals for the primary election in May. The school board wants a renewal of an operating levy as well as the renewal of a construction levy.

Hood River County’s Centennial Celebration Committee kicked off a year of activities with a program at the historic State Street Library.

A colorful print was unveiled with the theme “Consider It All” that was designed by local artist Kim Leslie. Numerous other events had been planned to mark the county’s 100th birthday.

Construction began on a two-block stretch of Oak Street in downtown Hood River. The roadway was torn up between Third and Fifth Streets to accommodate infrastructure improvements as the $1.2 million final phase of an Urban Renewal project.

Sandy attorney Steve Richkind filed as a Democratic candidate for the House District 52 seat being vacated by Patti Smith. He was being challenged for the Democratic nomination in the May primary by fellow Democrat Suzanne VanOrmann of Hood River.

Phyllis Thiemann of Corbett and Matt Lindland of Eagle Creek entered the race for the state legislative office as Republicans.

Hood River County Sheriff Joe Wampler announced his intent to seek a fifth four-year term in the elected role. He wanted voters to give him more time to build upon the achievements that had already been made during his watch.

Earth-moving started at the Hood River waterfront for the first phase of a new public park. Construction plans included an inset beach along the Columbia River, a spiral, stair-stepped water access ramp and landscaping on the borders of a pathway. The money to pay for the improvements came from a $500,000 state grant and $387,000 raised by the Waterfront Community Park Committee.

A California man who tried to run down Hood River Sheriff Deputy Pete Hughes — and assaulted an Oregon State Police trooper — was sent to prison for 30 months.

James Thomas Ruiz, 40, was found guilty in Hood River Circuit Court on three felony charges related to the March, 2007, incident. He also admitted to being under the influence of methamphetamine during his attempt to elude a police pursuit along Interstate 84.

Brandon Fletcher, 33, of Parkdale, was sentenced to one year in jail for running over his friend, Gerald Phelps, 35, during a 2006 hunting trip.

Phelps, who died of massive internal injuries, left behind a wife and three young children.

MARCH

Wasco County District Attorney Eric Nisley determined that none of the complaints filed about supervisor and/or employee wrongdoing at the regional jail were “prosecutable.”

Laura Pryor, interim director of the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facilities, then began categorizing the issues raised by 66 staffers. She wanted a centralized list of concerns to be reviewed by the board of directors, which included Hood River County Commission Chair Ron Rivers.

Rivers instigated the scrutiny of NORCOR’s work environment after receiving e-mails, telephone calls and letters from a dozen staffers. These individuals alleged money mismanagement, sexual harassment, retaliation for reporting wrongdoing, gender discrimination and the assault of some inmates.

Hood River County prepared a fiscal year 2008-09 budget devoid of $1.7 million in federal funding for road maintenance. Sheriff Wampler’s search and rescue program also lost $50,000-$130,000 with curtailment of the compensation for logging cutbacks in national forests.

Jose Martinez, foreman at Moore Orchards in Pine Grove, began educating a Hood River News reporter about farming practices. He agreed to provide information for the Fruit of Their Labors series that tracked an entire growing season in the valley.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs took public testimony at two casino hearings in Hood River County. The federal agency gathered comment from citizens and local governments about the Draft Environmental Impact Statement related to a tribal gaming proposal.

In 2005, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs submitted an application to build a 600,000-square-foot casino/resort on 25 acres within Cascade Locks’ industrial park. Another 35 acres would be leased from the Port of Cascade Locks for parking and other uses.

Hood River Mayor Streich stated her belief to BIA officials that a casino being sited anywhere in the Gorge would be a “mistake of catastrophic consequences.” Her testimony drew fire from both Cascade Locks and tribal leaders.

Detective Bob Davidson joined the race for sheriff, challenging Wampler for a “lack of leadership.”

School board members made it official and filed two ballot titles for the May 2008 election. District officials expressed hope for passage of a five-year Local Option Operating Levy, which would increase property taxes by up to $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed value. Also headed to voters was the proposal for a Construction Bond Levy, a 15-year proposal for $25 million.

The St. Urho’s Day Parade in Hood River was canceled after organizer Camille Hukari stepped down and no one offered to take her place.

The annual celebration of Finnish-American heritage is held annually around the globe at noon on March 16. The fun-filled theme centers on some type of political satire.