There will be single-lane closures of the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge this week due to bridge work.  Work will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. beginning Monday and continuing throughout the week until work is complete.  This is required, semi-annual maintenance welding that 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 Monday through Friday of this week.

Dufur 38, St. Paul 32:  Tanner Masterson’s 17 yard interception return for a touchdown in the final seconds of the third quarter was the difference as the Rangers claimed their fourth straight state championship and tenth in 32 years under head coach Jack Henderson.  Dufur’s defense came to the forefront in the second half after the two offenses dominated the first 24 minutes, combining for eight touchdowns as the Buckaroos took a 32-30 lead into the locker room.  But the Ranger defense dominated the second half, limiting St. Paul to 28 yards of total offense in the second half.  Dufur tied the game early in the third quarter when a bad snap led to a blocked punt that went out of the end zone for a safety, setting up Masterson’s pick-six later in the period.  Asa Farrell had 256 yards of total offense for Dufur, while Derek Frakes threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns.

For the first time since the Eagle Creek Fire, six miles of the Historic Columbia River Highway and several popular trails near Multnomah Falls reopened over the weekend.  Gorge trails now open include the well-known Angels Rest, Wahkeena, and Larch Mountain trails.  Drivers can now enjoy views of Horsetail Falls and Wahkeena Falls on the newly opened segment of the historic highway between Bridal Veil and Ainsworth.  The full length of the Historic Columbia River Highway impacted by the Eagle Creek Fire is now open.  The Oregon Department of Transportation reports the recovery included the removal of about 9,000 trees in danger of falling on the road and installation of more than 3,000 feet of protective fencing.  However, many U.S. Forest Service and State Park trails and sites remain closed with no timeline for reopening.  Visitors are advised to check weather conditions and the status of trails before heading out to hike.

The annual Starlight Parade will take place Friday evening in The Dalles.  The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson says the parade begins at 6 p.m. at West Sixth and Webber and heads downtown, then to Chamber office for the tree lighting celebration at 7 p.m.  The tree lighting will be at 7 p.m. Winners of the downtown window decorating contest and the coloring contest for the “Oregon is Magic” mural will be announced at that event.  The theme for this year’s Starlight Parade is “Hollywood Christmas.”

The City of The Dalles is offering a free Local Government Academy beginning in January for residents interested in learning more and getting involved with their local government. Assistant to the City Manager Matthew Klebes says the intent is to increase transparency and citizen involvement in local government.  Classes will begin in January, meeting twice a month, and applications are due by December 14.  For more information and to download an application, go to the City of The Dalles website, or call Klebes at 541-296-5481, ext. 1150.

The Washington Department of Ecology is lifting its stage 1 burn ban in Klickitat County Thursday morning at 10 a.m. because of improved air quality.  The ban was put in place on Saturday morning due to stagnant air conditions.  That had led to monitors showing elevated levels of air pollution.  Up-to-date burn ban information is available at www.waburnbans.net.  

With the beginning of the holiday season arriving, The Dalles Police Department will be actively enforcing its downtown parking ordinance.  Police Chief Patrick Ashmore is reminding people that under the ordinance no one should park their vehicle on city streets in the central business zone of the downtown area while at their place of employment, business, or residence between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.  Complete copies of the ordinance are available at The Dalles Police Department.

During a joint worksession Monday evening Wasco County Commissioners and The Dalles City Council agreed while they would prefer the state to handle building codes services, the state’s unwillingness to commit to a local office probably makes it preferable for the County to run it.  The state has been handling County building code services since Mid-Columbia Council of Governments ceased operations a number of months ago.  Members of both panels felt it’s the state’s obligation to take on the task, and that the state could find the workload too large to be handled at its Pendleton office or be pressured legislatively to provide a local office, but neither would be a sure thing.  MCCOG’s building codes program left behind four million dollars of reserves that could be used to establish a local office, but how much of that belongs to Wasco County is still unknown.  Mayor Steve Lawrence said the City would work with the County to do what it can to make a local building codes office work, adding a one-stop location for planning and building services can remain a goal.  County Commissioner Scott Hege noted his board has a lot of work to do before making a decision on taking on the program.

Community Thanksgiving dinners are set for Hood River, Cascade Locks, and The Dalles on Thursday.  Community Thanksgiving dinners take place in Hood River from noon to 4 p.m. at Riverside Church on 317 State Street, and in Cascade Locks at the Port Pavilion from noon to 2 p.m.  Those who are homebound and would like a meal delivered can call 541-806-0900 or email bnew1@live.com.  In The Dalles, the Salvation Army Community Thanksgiving Meal will be at St. Mary’s Academy on 1112 Cherry Heights Road from noon to 3 p.m.  If you are homebound in The Dalles area and need a meal delivered, call 541-296-6417.

Hood River County Commissioners heard from Sheriff Matt English about public safety levy options that could both provide the Sheriff’s Department with funds to meet current needs and also save general fund dollars as the County tries to find a way to close its budget gap.  Commission Chair Ron Rivers said English’s proposals were very well received.  A public safety levy would be one of a number of options available to the County to take to voters sometime next year.  Other possibilities include a prepared food and beverage tax.  Commissioners will hold a worksession December 3 to sort through information gathered at public open houses over the last month with an eye toward developing a road map on how to proceed.