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About The Hood River news. (Hood River, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (July 18, 2015)
www.hoodrivernews.com Hood River News, Saturday, July 18, 2015 A3 Governor signs ‘landmark’ college bill, tours businesses By PATRICK MULVIHILL News staff writer Oregon Gover nor Kate Brown rolled into Hood River Friday morning. Her first stop: CGCC’s Indian Creek Campus, where she signed the affordable college bill, Oregon Promise, and met with local representa- tives in education. Brown arrived at the col- lege shortly before 9:30 a.m. On her way, a sign posted at a Heights business greeted her, “Welcome to Hood River, Governor Kate Brown!” T he Gover nor shook hands and chatted with edu- cation leaders including Dan Goldman, Superintendent of Hood River County School District, Dr. Frank Toda, CGCC President, and Dan Spatz, Executive Director of Hood River Education Foun- dation. Also present were local representatives Rep. Mark Johnson (R-Hood River) and Rep. John Huffman (R-The Dalles), as well as Sen. Mark Hass (D-Beaverton), who spearheaded the Ore gon Promise bill. Johnson launched the signing event by introducing Brown, prefacing her execu- tive action with a short speech praising state policy makers for crafting the “landmark piece of legisla- tion.” He said the new bill, which he had co-sponsored, would allow the “seamless, productive pass-off of stu- dents” from high school to college. Brown thanked Hood River leaders and said, “I’m very grateful to be speaking here in sunny Hood River.” Brown praised the “bipar- tisan leadership” that had paved away at the Oregon Promise. She indicated the bill was specifically targeted at students from “working families out there trying to make ends meet.” Oregon Promise, SB 81, is a bill sponsored by Hass, and co-sponsored by local repre- sentative Rep. Mark Johnson and Rep. Tobias Read (D- Beaverton). The legislation allows for Ore gon high school students who gradu- ate with at least a 2.5 GPA — and maintain it through col- lege — to enroll in communi- ty college to get waived tu- ition, paid by the state. To reap the rewards, students have to be fresh out of col- lege (enrolling within six months of graduation) and they must apply for all feder- al and state grants they’re el- igible. Students can earn an asso- ciate’s degree or a career technical certificate for free via Oregon Promise, as long as maintain a 2.5 GPA and stay continuously enrolled. The max is 90 credits. Some suppor ters have lauded the bill as “free col- lege,” but Brown described it as a means of waiving tu- ition for certain students fresh out of college. “With the legislation that I’m going to sign in just a few moments, known as the Ore- gon Promise, we are opening the doors of opportunity even wider, by providing tu- ition waivers to academical- ly eligible students,” said Brown. “Recent high school grad- uates will now be able to earn their undergraduate ed- ucation tuition free at their local community college.” Hass described the bill as a way for students who “work hard and stay out of trouble” to access college. After Hass’s final words, Brown signed the bill, posing with the representatives. Then, she spoke in a short, private roundtable discus- sion with the education lead- ers. After the college stop, Brown spoke at the Leaders for Tomorrow (LFT) brunch at the Best Western Plus Hood River Inn. The organi- zation is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a lineup of alumni speakers. Brown spoke to future business leaders, her topics including women who had inspired her in the past, es- pecially Oregon’s first fe- male gover nor, Barbara Roberts. After the speech, Brown planned to visit Hood River businesses on an economic development tour, including pFriem Family Brewers and Dakine. H OUSING Continued from Page A1 zones. “This is definitely the last meeting,” she said. The commission will also look at the “political things the city council can do” such as state tax deferrals and HEIGHTS CRASH, NONE HURT Two passenger vehicles collided Wednesday at the intersection of Belmont and 12th Avenue, next to Heights Fuel Stop. There were no serious injuries. Hood River Police Sergeant Andrew Rau said a Stevenson woman driving a blue sedan failed to yield when turning left onto the 12th, and crashed into a green Dodge truck driven by a Hood River man. The woman was transported to Providence Memorial Hospital with minor in- juries. Hood River Police and Hood River Fire and EMS responded, closing off the right lane on 12th for about an hour. Photo by Patrick Mulvihill. Marina Way McDonald's Re-Grand Opening Wednesday July 22, 2015 Come see our new Remodeled Restaurant Ronald McDonald will Meet and Greet You From Noon to 2 p.m. Specials include: Sm. Med. and Large soft drinks only .75¢ ALL DAY 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. • .75¢ Big Macs and Medium Fries Cake will be served from 1-2 p.m. Photos by Kirby Neumann-Rea GOV. KATE BROWN meets Kelcie Rigel, 15, and her Big Sister Barb Young of Hood River, who were among community members attending. “It’s nice to be in sunny Hood River, but today I think it is sunny all over Oregon,” Brown said before signing the education bill. real estate taxes; “The meaty part is the land use and possible limita- tions on particular uses for 30 days or less or more,” she said.“I do see a lot of people getting interested in this, now that they hear the hous- ing strategies, and I think we will hear from folks on the short term rentals as well as those who will speak on af- fordable housing,” she said. Calling All Softball Players 12U ASA Tryouts for the NEW Gorge Softball team will be held August 1st at 6pm on the softball field on Nix Drive in Hood River. To Register or for information Contact Tonya at (541)705-7217 or gorgeshadows@gmail.com Keep up to date! Like us on Facebook. facebook.com/gorgeshadows
