The U.S. Forest Service has made permits for those interested in hiking Dog Mountain on weekends from April 20 to June 16 this year available online at recreation.gov.  The permits are required as part of a partnership between Washington State Department of Transportation, Skamania County, and the Skamania County Chamber of Commerce to protect public safety.  It began last year as a response to growing safety concerns about congestion and accidents near the Dog Mountain Trailhead.  Permits will be required for all visitors to the Dog Mountain trail system on Saturdays and Sundays through peak wildflower season as a measure to prevent congestion at the trailhead by encouraging visitors to take a shuttle.  Permits can be obtained online, or shuttle riders who take the Skamania County West End Transit bus from the County Fairgrounds in Stevenson receive a free permit upon arrival at the trailhead.  Each hiker should carry a printed permit or electronic copy of their permit, as Forest Service employees will check for permits at the trailhead.

Oregon Class 5A Boys Basketball Playoffs

First Round

La Salle 63, Hood River Valley 49: The Falcons outscored the Eagles 21-6 in the second quarter to build a 31-20 halftime lead on their way to the win at Vannet Court.  Jace Norton scored 22 points and Justin North 20 points for La Salle.  Carson Flores scored 13 points and Noah Webster 12 for Hood River Valley in its first state playoff game since 1994.  The Eagles finished the season at 14-7, its first winning season in a quarter-century.

Churchill 100, The Dalles 54:  The top-seeded Lancers shot over 54 percent from the field, including eight three-pointers in a 37 point third quarter.  Brian Goracke had 32 points as the Lancers saw three players end up over 20.  Josh Nisbet made six three-pointers and scored 20 points for Riverhawks.

Oregon Class 1A Boys Basketball Tournament at Baker City

Fourth Place Game

Damascus Christian 59, Sherman 52:  A 20-9 fourth quarter run lifted Damascus Christian to the win.  Jacob Zakharyuk scored 21 points for the winners, while Luke Martin scored 17 points and Keenan Coles 11 for the Huskies.

A North Bonneville man was arrested Thursday night after a lengthy standoff with law enforcement officers.  The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office says 42-year-old Robert Lane was wanted on multiple warrants including stalking and violation of a protection order.  Deputies had contacted Lane by phone and learned he was at his residence in North Bonneville.  Contact with Lane was maintained through phone and text as he refused to exit the house.  Sheriff Dave Brown says after two hours of negotiating with Lane by phone, deputies made entry into the residence and were immediately confronted by Lane armed with a long gun that he raised toward the deputies, who exited without engaging him.  The Southwest Washington Regional SWAT assisted in continued negotiations with Lane by phone, and at about 8 p.m. Lane exited the residence and was taken into custody.  Lane claimed he attempted to overdose on medications prior to exiting the residence, and was examined on scene and transported to a medical facility for further observation.  He is now facing additional charges for first degree assault and felon in possession of a firearm.

South Wasco School District is closed.

Stevenson-Carson School District two-hour delay, no morning pre-school, Carrot Route has two stops on Snow Route: Berge and Dillon.  Corn Route also on Snow Route for Panther Creek.

Sherman School District two-hour delay.

Mill A School District two-hour delay.

Lyle School District on-time with Lyle Snowden/Appleton bus on snow route.

The Oregon Legislature’s Joint Carbon Reduction Committee will hold a hearing in The Dalles on Friday on House Bill 2020, the state’s cap and trade bill.  Republican 30th District State Senator Cliff Bentz is co-vice chair of the panel, noting it will be the fifth hearing being held around the state, adding they have been extremely well attended.  The hearing will run from noon to three Friday at The Dalles Civic Auditorium.

The Hood River County School District has started the process of studying of how to best adjust boundary lines for elementary and middle schools.  Superintendent Dan Goldman says they have done data collection, and staff is preparing a “spring board” proposal for a community committee to begin its work that will start on March 5 and continue for about eight weeks.  They will give recommendations to Goldman, who will then give his recommendations to the district board.  The district is dealing with buildings at capacity in the lower part of the Hood River Valley, while classroom space is available in the mid- and upper-Valley.

Applications are now available for the Columbia Gorge Community College Foundation’s 2019-20 full year scholarships.  The Foundation’s Steph Hoppe says the scholarships help cover the cost of attending the college, and anyone can apply for them.  Full-year awards are $2500.  Applications are now available on-line at cgcc.edu.  The deadline to apply is April 25.

Nine youngsters were taken to a hospital on Wednesday after the wheels of a Hood River County School District bus they were in went into a drainage ditch next to a driveway, causing the wheels of the bus to bounce over the entrance to the driveway.  District Superintendent Dan Goldman confirms the bus was going south on the Dee Highway at about 10:15 Wednesday morning when the incident occurred.  The bus continued on to both Wy’east Middle School and Hood River Valley High School.  Goldman says once the students reached their destination, some reported they had been jostled around as a result of what happened, and nine of them went to area hospitals for examination.  The OSP is investigating the incident, and Goldman said after that the district will conduct its own investigation.

Oregon Class 1A Boys Basketball Tournament at Baker City

Quarterfinals

Prairie City 52, Sherman 48:  Prairie City outscored the Huskies 18-5 in the fourth quarter to come from behind for the win.  Lucas McKinley’s jumper in the paint with two minutes lead gave Prairie City the lead for good.  Levi Burke had 15 points and 12 rebounds for Prairie City, while Keenan Coles had 13 points to lead the Huskies.

Nixyaawii 66, Horizon Christian 44:  Moses Moses scored 25 points to pace the Golden Eagles, as they took control with a 19-2 run during the first half.  The Hawks closed to within six midway through the third quarter, but the Golden Eagles put the contest away with a 14-2 run.  Derek Johnston lead the Hawks with 12 points. 

Consolation Semi-Final

Sherman 59, Horizon Christian 28:  Sherman never trailed in the game, dominating from start to finish.  Keenan Coles had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Huskies, while Luke Martin added 16 points and Wade Fields tallied 11.  Bailey Holste led the Hawks with seven points.  Sherman meets Damascus Christian for fourth place Saturday at 8 a.m.

Oregon Class 5A Boys Basketball Tournament

Friday Games

The Dalles at Churchill, 6 p.m.

LaSalle at Hood River Valley, 6:30 p.m.

Klickitat County Commissioners have decided to hold a second opportunity for citizens to sound off on their opinions of Washington Initiative 1639  That initiative established new gun laws in Washington, but Sheriff Bob Songer has indicated he will not enforce them, believing they are unconstitutional.  A public meeting last week in Goldendale resulted in most speakers supporting that stance.  Commissioner David Sauter says the board decided yesterday they should have a similar session in White Salmon.  The meeting will be on March 12 at the Pioneer Center, with a time to be announced.