Meyer Memorial Trust has given a $175,000 grant to Columbia Gorge Community College, Hood River County School District, North Wasco County School District 21, and the Columbia Gorge Educational Service District to develop a teacher training program in partnership with Oregon State University.  Dan Spatz of CGCC says the program will start over the next year, and will be focused on grades K-5 with an intent of diversifying the instructional workforce.  Spatz says the program will get people started on the path toward becoming teachers, and act as a springboard toward four-year programs.

Mid-Columbia Community Action will begin to take appointments from the general public to apply for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program on Monday.  Jim Slusher of Mid-Columbia Community Action says the first step is to simply schedule an appointment, which because of the number of senior and disabled clients that have already booked spots may not happen until January.  Community Action will begin scheduling appointments on Monday at 8 a.m.  In The Dalles call 541-298-5131, and in Hood River call 51-386-4027.

The Hood River County Education Foundation is bringing “Christmas with the Trail Band” back to the Hood River Middle School Auditorium one final time on Saturday.  The performance was a staple of Hood River’s holiday season for a number of years, and the Foundation’s Mike Schend says the Trail Band is returning during its farewell tour.  Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for children under 12.  They can be purchased in advance at Waucoma Bookstore in Hood River and Klindt’s Booksellers in The Dalles, and also will be available at the door.  The show starts Saturday at 7 p.m.

Holiday season celebrations are scheduled in Stevenson and White Salmon this coming weekend.  Christmas in the Gorge is in Stevenson this weekend, starting Friday evening with caroling in the Courthouse Plaza at 6:30 followed by the lighting of the Courthouse Christmas tree at 6:55 and the Starlight Parade at 7:00.  A number of events are planned for Saturday, go to cityofstevenson.com for more information.  “Dreaming of a White Salmon Christmas” is Saturday, starting with the Santa’s Breakfast at Henkle Middle School at 7:30 a.m., followed by the Holiday Wassail at the White Salmon Valley Community Library at 2 p.m., and the lighting of the tree and menorah at the Riverview Bank parking lot on Jewett Boulevard at 5 p.m.

Girls Basketball The Dalles 36, Dallas 20:  Kilee Hoylman scored 16 points as the Riverhawks won their season opener.  The Dalles limited the Dragons to only one field goal in the first half. Silverton 73, Hood River Valley 19:   The Eagles fall to a Silverton squad ranked seventh in the pre-season Class 5A coaches’ poll.

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden and Idaho Senator Mike Crapo led a bipartisan call with 23 of their Senate colleagues calling for a one-year reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools program in any year-end funding measures.  The letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Charles Schumer says the program is a critical lifeline for over 775 counties in over 40 states to help fund schools, road maintenance, law enforcement, and search and rescue operations, adding Congress has an obligation to counties with large amounts of tax-exempt forestlands.  The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act was first introduced in 2000.  Earlier this month, Crapo and Wyden introduced stand-alone legislation to extend SRS by one year, and they hope Senate leadership will include that measure in its year-end funding proposal.  Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and Washington’s Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray also signed the letter.

Wet weather conditions this week are prompting an extension of the work schedule for the semi-annual bridge deck maintenance welding on the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge through December 5.  As weather conditions allow, there will be single-lane closures of the bridge from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. weekdays through December 5.  The welding is done to repair cracks in the steel grate of the bridge deck.  The work must occur during dry, bright weather for visibility.  Flaggers will direct traffic on the bridge and motorists are urge to drive slowly for worker safety.  Motorists should plan for significant delays of up to 30  minutes in both directions during the daylight hours weekdays through December 5.

The African Children’s Choir will perform on Friday at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Goldendale.  Since the 1980’s, the choir and its parent organization Music For Life has educated over 52,000 children in Uganda and other African countries, and impacted the lives of others through its relief and development programs.  The Choir has performed before heads of state, most recently the Queen of England, and alongside major performing artists.  The concert features well-loved children’s songs, traditional spirituals, and gospel favorites.  The concert begins Friday at 7 p.m. at Christ The King Lutheran Church in Goldendale.  No tickets are needed, but donations are accepted.

Oregon Second District Congressman Greg Walden has been elected to the House Republican Steering Committee as the representative on the panel for western states.  The committee will determine leadership and upcoming policy priorities for Republicans.  Walden says he will advocate for policies that address the challenges faced in the West.  Among those are federal forest policy improvements to reduce the risk of wildfires, bring local input to public land management decisions, and ensuring farming, ranching, and rural communities can thrive.  Walden will represent Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming on the panel.

Boys Basketball Washougal 58, Stevenson 39:  Issac Hoidal scored 16 points to lead the Bulldogs in their season opener.   Girls Basketball Hudson’s Bay 60, Stevenson 55:  Cassie MacNab scored 15 for Stevenson, while Katie Rathgeber and Ashley Brennan added 14 apiece.