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About Columbia Gorge news. (The Dalles, OR) 2020-current | View Entire Issue (June 9, 2021)
B4 Columbia Gorge News Wednesday, June 9, 2021 www.columbiagorgenews.com The Kennedys then, and now. Tom and Julie Kennedy celebrate 50th anniversary Tom and Julie (Whitby) Kennedy, of White Salmon, celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary June 12. The couple was married on June 12, 1971, in the LDS Idaho Falls Temple and have lived in White Salmon since 1974. Julie worked as a teacher in the White Salmon School District, and Tom as the manager of Employment Security/JobWorks office; both are now retired. Children are Debbie (husband Kevin) Gibson of Snowflake, Ariz., Mark (wife Jennifer) Kennedy of Olympia, Wash., Darla Kennedy of White Salmon, Susan (husband Eric) Jensen of Mesa, Ariz., Steve (fiancée Trish) Kennedy of Hilo, Hawaii, Marie (husband Ben) Turner of Alexandria, Va., and Tom Kennedy of Hilo. The couple also has 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The milestone will be celebrated privately with family. Contributed photos Rending of a boardwalk on the future Mill Creek Greenway. Contributed photo Northern Wasco County Parks & Rec awarded $2.6M for Mill Creek Greenway construction Bankman ■ By For Judy NWCPRD On May 3, the Northern Wasco County Parks & Recreation District (NWCPRD) was awarded just over $2.6 million from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to support construction of the Mill Creek Greenway. These funds, along with a 10 percent local match from the Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency, will be used through 2024 to build a fully acces- sible bike and pedestrian path from W. Second Street to W. Sixth Street in The Dalles within the stream corridor. The Mill Creek Greenway will connect the residential west side of The Dalles to the downtown district, public parks, and the Riverfront Trail. Last year, ODOT allocated $15.5 million for the Oregon Community Paths Program, which aims to improve access to active and public transportation. The Oregon Transportation Commission identi- fied Wasco County and the Mill Creek Greenway as its number one priority out of 17 funded projects throughout Oregon this year. “We are thrilled that ODOT, the City of The Dalles, the Urban Renewal Agency and the Park District could work together to achieve something none of us could have done on our own,” said Scott Baker, executive director for NWCPRD. “This is a great win for our community, and the first step towards developing a system of multi- use trails that will connect our downtown, parks and pool, and Westside residential areas.” The Mill Creek Greenway will provide not only a bike and pedestrian corridor, but will facilitate equitable access to parks and commercial areas for all residents of The Dalles. Currently, residents on the west side of The Dalles have a need for transporta- tion alternatives: There are simply no safe pedestrian and bike routes connecting this residential area to the downtown district. The speed limit on W. Second Street is 35 miles per hour, and there is no shoulder. If you don’t drive or have a car, it’s both chal- lenging and unsafe to get downtown. The Mill Creek Greenway was identified as a project for the Urban Renewal Agency in The Dalles in 1990, and for several decades, it lacked a champion. When Baker be-came executive director November 2016, he joined the board of the Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency, and took on this project. “I immediately wanted to champion this,” said Baker. “I reached out to folks and explained I felt personal connection and wanted to see it happen.” In 2018, the Urban Renewal Agency committed $94,000 to begin design and engineering of the Mill Creek Greenway. Baker managed this project on behalf of the Agency, and by 2020, the design and engineering was complete. This prelim- inary work, which was incorporated in NWCPRD’s Master Plan, showed ODOT that the district had set the foundation for the greenway and could hit the ground running once it received funding. Baker also realized that it made sense to divide the Mill Creek Greenway, which will be three miles long when complete, into manageable portions. The $2.6 million through the Oregon Community Paths Program will cover the construction of the central part of the greenway. This part will be the most challenging and expensive piece to build, be-cause the basalt cliffs on either side of the streambed will necessi- tate a raised board-walk. Once this section is built, NWCPRD is confident that local resources will be able to cover the con- struction of the rest of the greenway. NWCPRD is actively working to pursue many other projects, including improving Sorosis Park, building a dog park, and expanding Thompson Park Skatepark. The district plans to engage community members over the summer and learn about what new features they would like to see at a revitalized Sorosis Park, with the goal of applying for funding through the American Rescue Plan and the Land and Water Conservation Fund by this fall. There is no lack of collaborative commu- nity efforts in The Dalles, and the recent Mill Creek Greenway grant shows how years of planning and cooperation among partners is now benefiting the community at large. The greenway is a big step toward establishing greater connectivity among neighborhoods and enhancing quality of life for all residents in The Dalles. SERVING THE ENTIRE GORGE Wall to Wall Cleaning for your pipes! Our Jetter is ready to clear your slow drains. • New Construction • Industrial • Commercial • Residential • Remodels • Service & Repair • Drain Cleaning • Camera & Locate • Backflow Testing • Water Heater Installation & Repair BONDED & INSURED OR #177235 WA #CAMPSPL938Q9 10% Veterans Discount! Visa, Mastercard & Discover Pictured are Lt. Col. Scott Maguire, Civil Air Patrol Pacific Region Director of Public Affairs and C/2nd Lt. Zachary Revier during the Gorge Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol Awards Evening on June 1. Contributed photo Awards ceremony honors region’s cadets HOOD RIVER — Gorge Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, located at the Hood River Airport, hosted an Awards Evening on June 1. Cadets who demonstrat- ed leadership during the past year of quarantine by attending meetings regu- larly, teaching lessons on aerospace, leading leader- ship activities were honored. In addition, cadets were in good standing academically, progressing satisfactorily through the CAP cadet program, be of high moral character and demonstrated growth potential. Gladys Wesley, regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution Celilo Chapter, The Dalles, presented the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Outstanding Cadet Medal to C/MSgt Ryan Betts, Hood River Valley High School, Hood River. The National Society DAR Outstanding Cadet Medal is awarded to a cadet of outstanding abil- ity and achievement. Ellen Hopkins helped facilitate the presentation. Tom Tesoriero, quarter- master at VFW Post 2471 The Dalles, presented the VFW Award to Outstanding Cadet Office: C/2nd Lt. Isaac Walker, Running Start Program, North Bonneville, Wash.; and VFW Award to Outstanding Cadet NCO to C/TSgt Riley Richards, homeschool, High Prairie Academy, Lyle. This is an annual award established by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) to recognize the outstanding CAP cadets in each squadron. Lt. Col Scott Maguire, Civil Air Patrol Regional Public Affairs officer, presented the Air Force Sergeants Association Cadet NCO of the Year Award to C/CMSgt Travis Wayda, Oregon Charter Academy, Parkdale — this is awarded to the cadet noncommissioned of- ficer who exhibits outstand- ing qualities in the areas of followership, leadership, self-discipline and aero- space education; Air Force Association Outstanding Cadet Award to C/2nd Lt. Zachary Revier, Hood River Valley High School — an annual award established by the Air Force Association (AFA) to recognize the outstanding CAP cadet in each squadron; and CAP Achievement Award to C/ CMSgt Jakob Stanbrough, Goldendale High School, Goldendale — for outstand- ing service to the unit, group or wing, particularly in the area of aerospace education. Senior C/SMSgt Charis Bronson will graduate from Hood River Valley High School. Bronson received an Air Force ROTC Scholarship and will attend Michigan Technical University, where she plans to major in geolo- gy and minor in astrophys- ics. She plans to work in the field of aerospace. Established in 1941, Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and as such is a member of its Total Force. In its auxiliary role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 single-engine Cessna aircraft and more than 2,000 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) and performs about 90 percent of all search and rescue operations within the contiguous United States as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. Often using innovative cell- phone forensics and radar analysis software, CAP was credited by the AFRCC with saving 130 lives during the past fiscal year, according to a press release. Fifty-four thousand of CAP’s members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. As a nonprofit organization, CAP plays a leading role in aerospace education using national academic stan- dards-based STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education. Members also serve as mentors to more than 20,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs. Visit www.CAP.News or www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com for more information. LOCATION 200 SOUTH WALNUT BINGEN, WA 509.493. 2751 RETAIL SALES HOURS: MONDAY – FRIDAY, 7:00AM - 3:30 PM VISIT OUR WEBSITE SDSLUMBER.COM WE CARRY STOVE PELLETS LOCAL SALES STUDS LANDSCAPE MATERIALS #2 & Btr, KD, DF, S4SEE 2x4 - 6’ thru 16’ 2x6 - 6’ thru 20’ 4x4 - 8’ treated posts 4x4 - 8’, 10‘ posts BARK DUST CHIPS PLYWOOD 3/8” thru 3/4” CDX, ACX, T&G AND SANDED PANELS DRAIN ROCK GRAVEL SAND RAILROAD TIES YARD MULCH SAWDUST SHAVINGS “DIRT HUGGER” COMPOST FENCE POSTS & BOARDS WE DELIVER