It’s going to be a snow-filled weekend in the Gorge.  The National Weather Service has winter storm warning in effect from 6 p.m. Friday evening to 7 p.m. Saturday evening for Hood River, the Central Gorge, and the Upper Hood River Valley, from 6 p.m. Friday to 1 p.m. Saturday for Cascade Locks and the Western Gorge, and 7 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Sunday for The Dalles and the Eastern Gorge.  Forecasts call for six to ten inches of snow in the Hood River area over Friday night into Saturday, and two to six inches of snow in The Dalles area, with temperatures in the 20’s through Saturday and getting down into the teens Saturday night, plus strong east winds Saturday afternoon and night.  And after a break in the snow Sunday, another storm is forecast to reach the region Sunday night that could bring another six to 12 inches of snow to the Hood River area, and a third strong winter storm is now being projected to arrive Monday night.

As a major winter storm prepares to arrive in the region, the Natural Resources Conservation Service February Water Supply Outlook shows most of Western Oregon has a snowpack ranging from 50 to 70 percent of normal.  The Hood, Sandy, and Lower Deschutes basin snowpack was at 51 percent of normal as of mid-week, the lowest figure in the state.  The basins were also the driest in the state for January precipitation at 53 percent of average.  Elsewhere January precipitation was 70 to 80 percent of average.  Eastern Oregon is faring much better, with snowpack at 80 to 100 percent of normal for this time of year.

Oregon State Senator Cliff Bentz says he has offered a number of amendments on the carbon cap-and-trade proposal currently before legislators.  The 30th District Republican expects a carbon bill to pass, and he’s not in favor of the general concept, but also recognizes most Oregonians want legislators to address climate change, so he’s looking to try to make the bill affect the change at the least cost to Oregonians.  One of his amendments would be to rebate back to people a portion of the tax they pay when using fossil fuels.  Bentz, who is the co-vice chair of the Joint Committee on Carbon Reduction, is suggesting the plan be 60 percent revenue neutral.  Bentz added he expects to offer about a dozen amendments to the bill.

Thursday Scores

Boys Basketball

Hood River Valley 76, Ridgeview 42:  The Eagles held the Ravens to 15 second half points to win their sixth consecutive game and remain a game ahead of Pendleton atop the Intermountain Conference standings.  Noah Webster scored 25 points for HRV, while Carson Flores added 23.  HRV is scheduled to visit Pendleton on Tuesday.

Girls Basketball

Ridgeview 78, Hood River Valley 30

Southwest Washington Class 1A Boys Basketball Tournament

Forks 77, Stevenson 67:  The Bulldogs are scheduled to face Hoquiam in a loser-out game on Saturday at 1 p.m. at King’s Way Christian.

Greater Columbia League Basketball Tournament at Goldendale

Second Round

Boys

Trout Lake 62, Bickleton 43

Semi-Final

Trout Lake vs. Yakama Tribal, Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

Girls

Trout Lake 81, Klickitat-Glenwood 45

Semi-Final

Trout Lake vs. Yakama Tribal, Saturday at 5 p.m.

Today’s Schedule

Given the current weather forecast, check with your school to confirm scheduled events are taking place.

Boys Basketball

The Dalles at Redmond, postponed

South Wasco at Echo, 6:30 p.m.

Mitchell-Spray at Horizon Christian, 6:30 p.m.

Arlington at Sherman, 6:30 p.m.

Condon-Wheeler at Dufur, 5:30 p.m.

Girls Basketball

Redmond at The Dalles, postponed

South Wasco at Echo, 5 p.m.

Arlington at Sherman, 5 p.m.

Condon-Wheeler at Dufur, 4 p.m.

Southwest Washington Class 1A Girls Basketball Tournament

First Round

Tenino at Stevenson, 6 p.m.

Swimming

Intermountain Conference Championships at Hood River Aquatic Center, 11 a.m.

Wrestling

Intermountain Conference Championships at Pendleton

February 9 Schedule

Boys Basketball

Ione at South Wasco, 2:30 p.m.

Horizon Christian at Arlington, 3:30 p.m.

Sherman at Mitchell-Spray

Southwest Washington Class 1A Boys Basketball Tournament

Second Round

Stevenson vs. Hoquiam at King’s Way Christian, 1 p.m.

Greater Columbia League Basketball Tournament at Goldendale

Girls:  Trout Lake vs. Yakama Tribal, 5 p.m.

Boys:  Trout Lake vs. Yakama Tribal, 6:30 p.m.

Girls Basketball

Ione at South Wasco, 1 p.m.

Sherman at Mitchell-Spray

Wrestling

Intermountain Conference Championships at Pendleton

Southwest Washington Class 1A Regionals at Castle Rock

SCAC Tournament at Royal

Oregon State Cheerleading Championships postponed to next weekend at Portland Memorial Coliseum.

Washington 14th District State Representative Chris Corry has introduced a bill he says would put better protections in place for farmers and ranchers leasing state trust lands.  House Bill 1964 would change Washington Department of Natural Resources standards when terminating a land lease.  Corry’s bill would require the agency to obtain written consent from the lessee before reclaiming the land.  Currently under the non-default or early termination provision of a state trust land lease, DNR is authorized to terminate the lease in the event the agency includes the land in a plan for a “higher or better use, land exchange, or sale” while also providing advance written notice with 180 days.  Corry says when DNR moves to terminate a land lease, farmers and ranchers take a financial hit.  DNR statistics show 1.1 million acres of state trust lands are leased for grazing or agricultural use.  The bill is in the House Rural Development, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee.

Port of Hood River Commissioners received a report on underwater sonar imaging on the underwater piers of the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says divers do visual inspections every two years, but this first sonar imaging will provide baseline data and will be used in a two-year cycle to see if there are any changes and protection needed.  He points out that no pressing needs were found.  McElwee says the data is valuable to help them protect the part of the bridge people don’t see.

The Mid-Columbia Interagency Narcotics Task Force and The Dalles Police Department executed a search warrant on a residence at 220 East 12th #C in The Dalles resulting in the arrest of one man on various charges relating to the distribution of methamphetamine.  According to a MINT press release this week, 34-year-old Kevin Hester was taken into custody at the residence and lodged at NORCOR on charges including unlawful delivery of methamphetamine within one-thousand feet of a school, unlawful possession of methamphetamine, endangering the welfare of a minor, felon in possession of a weapon, theft 1, and attempting to assault a public safety officer.  MINT officials say the search was part of an on-going investigation, and anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call the MINT tip line at 541-296-1885.  The MINT team is made up of Sheriff’s offices and police departments in Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties.

Boys Basketball

Sherman 50, Horizon Christian 34:  Sherman moves two games ahead of Horizon atop the Big Sky Conference with just two games left in the regular season this weekend.

Dufur 65, Mitchell-Spray 30

Girls Basketball

Dufur 38, Mitchell-Spray 17

Greater Columbia League Basketball Tournament at Goldendale

First Round

Boys

Yakama Tribal 87, Trout Lake 65

Sunnyside Christian 80, Bickleton 25

Girls

Yakama Tribal 64, Trout Lake 61

Sunnyside Christian 75, Klickitat-Glenwood 42

Oregon Second District Congressman Greg Walden called for better forest management to address climate change during a hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee.  Walden is the ranking Republican on the panel.  The Hood River Republican says improved forest management can reduce the amount of catastrophic wildfires in the West while at the same time help the environment.  Walden cites recent studies by the Nature Conservancy, Forest Service, and others finding active management of fire fuels can reduce the size and intensity of wildfires by up to 70 percent, and can reduce carbon emissions from wildfires by up to 85 percent.

There is a little over a week left to apply for the paid internships being offered for this summer through the GorgeWorks program.  Kathy Ursprung of GorgeWorks says they have 19 different nine-week internships to offer this year for applicants of varying educational backgrounds.  Applications are available at GorgeWorks.com, and must be submitted by February 15.

GorgeWorks is hosting a pair of drop-in help sessions to provide guidance to job seekers on putting together resumes and cover letters.  One will be Thursday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Port of The Dalles at 3636 Klindt Drive in The Dalles, with another planned for the same time and location on February 12.