The second of three women accused on charges surrounding the death of a four-month-old child who died in a Hood River day care in May made an appearance Monday in Hood River County Circuit Court.  The lawyer for 51-year-old Rochelle Jones waived her right to a trial within 60 days. noting an investigator had been hired and with this likely to be a Measure 11 case, they would need additional time to prepare.  Jones appeared by video from NORCOR, and did not say anything during the brief proceeding before Circuit Judge John Wolf.  She was scheduled to make another appearance December 6.  A second defendant in the case, 62-year-old Donna Pilcher, made a similar court appearance last week and will return again next Tuesday, while 61-year-old Debra Jones is scheduled to make her initial court appearance on Thursday.  All three face felony charges of second degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and first degree criminal mistreatment in the death of four-month-old Cyrus Macioroski, along with five misdemeanor counts of operating an unlicensed childcare facility.

The high-tech industry will be a large part of the discussions at the Columbia Gorge Economic Symposium this Friday at The Dalles Civic Auditorium.  The Mid-Columbia Economic Development District hosts the symposium every year, focusing on economic and employment trends in the regional economy.  MCEDD’s Tatiana Eckhart says they will have a panel of tech industry members, in particular those involved in the unmanned aerial systems sector, as part of the symposium.  Insitu CEO Esina Alic will be the keynote speaker.  Regional economists from the Oregon and Washington employment departments will present local data and trents.  The symposium runs from nine to one on Friday at The Dalles Civic Auditorium.  Tickets are $25, and available at mcedd.org.

The non-profit group looking to build a 600-seat performing arts center in the region is continuing its efforts.  Performing Arts Initiative board president Mark Steighner says they are making progress, including a signed letter of intent for purchase of property in the Westcliff area of Hood River.  Steighner says they hope to get land use approval in the next few months, and they are moving toward hiring staff.  Steighner says they are starting a business consortium to support the project, and the group hopes to start a capital campaign within two years.  The initiative’s website is gorgeperformingarts.org.

A new mural is being unveiled in The Dalles on Saturday morning.  It’s part of Travel Oregon’s Only Slightly Exaggerated campaign in which seven murals are being painted in seven different cities to create a new Oregon mural trail.  The mural in The Dalles is on the side of the Leeland Property Management building at 723 East 2^nd.  Painted by Portland artist Blaine Fontana, the mural features a leaping salmon large enough to dwarf a boat full of river rafters.  The mural will be unveiled at an event on Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  A community celebration during the event will include a pancake breakfast hosted by The Dalles Lions Club, kids coloring station, and photo opportunities with the mural.  

The Dalles Public Works crews will be cleaning stormwater catch basins in the downtown area on Tuesday and Wednesday to prepare for the rainy season.  Crews are scheduled to work on First, Second, Third and Fourth Streets from the west side of Lincoln Street to the east side of Taylor Street.  The work is scheduled overnight to cause the least disruption to traffic and businesses.      Work will occur between 9:00 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. each night.  Motorists are asked to park so that the catch basins are accessible during the night work hours.

Boys Soccer Hood River Valley 2, The Dalles 1:  Fabian Magana broke a scoreless tie with a goal from the right-hand side of the box in the 54^th minute, propelling the Eagles to a win that gave them second place in the Intermountain Conference.  Ivan Solano made it 2-0 in the 71^st minute.  The Riverhawks’ Alex Gutierez made it closer with a goal with just over one minute to play.  Both teams advance to the state Class 5A playoffs beginning on Tuesday.   Girls Soccer Hood River Valley 3, The Dalles 1:  The Eagles win the final game of the IMC season for both squads, with each heading to the state playoffs starting on Wednesday.   Cross Country Columbia won the boys’ championship at the Southwest Washington District 4 Class 1A Championships in Woodland.  Four Bruins finished in the top ten, with Jacob Lockman third and Dylan Beneventi fourth.  Stevenson was seventh as a team, with Julio Ramos the Bulldogs’ top finisher in seventh.  In the girls’ race Columbia was third and Stevenson fifth as LaCenter won the team title.  Joules Hope took fifth and Lillian Nelson sixth for Columbia, while Stevenson’s Isabella Spencer was eighth.   Goldendale won the girls’ title at the SCAC District meet at Apple Ridge in Yakima.  The Timberwolves’ Ellie Rising was the individual winner, with Abby Hedges fourth and Kimberly Chestnut sixth.  Goldendale was third in the boys’ competition, led by Sterling Beasley in ninth.   Volleyball Columbia def. Stevenson 3 sets to 0:  The Bruins begin district tournament play on Wednesday after finishing fourth in the Trico League.

The Oregon State Police along with Columbia River Inter Tribal Fisheries Enforcement and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Police conducted nighttime boat patrols on four separate occasions in September to address illegal gillnetting complaints on the Columbia River at the Deschutes River Sanctuary.  The OSP says the majority of the commercial fishermen contacted were operating legally and happy to see the patrols.  Three commercial boats were located actively gillnetting in the Deschutes River sanctuary, with a fourth in the John Day Dam sanctuary.  A total of seven citations for fishing in closed waters were issued in the two sancutaries.  There were four arrests on various charges, two illegal gillnets seized, and other citations and warnings were given.

Klickitat County is beginning the process of developing its 2019 budget.  County Commissioner Jim Sizemore says they anticipate no big issues this year, noting revenues remain consistent.  Sizemore adds that is good for the short-term, but as expenses increase they could be facing some long-term issues.  Sizemore says one way to grow revenue for the County is to see the industrial land around the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport in Dallesport developed.  He adds the County is about to do a buildable lands inventory to determine what is available for development around the County.

Klickitat and Skamania County residents can safely dispose of all unused prescription and over the counter medications at three free collection events on Saturday.  All unwanted medications, both controlled and non-controlled, will be accepted at each event location.  The take back events will be at Skyline Hospital in White Salmon, the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office in Stevenson, and the Klickitat County Courthouse in Goldendale.  All the events will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.  The event is funded in part by Washington State Health Care Authority, and organized by a number of different local organizations.

The Hood River/White Salmon Interstate Bridge will be closed early Thursday morning for 30 minutes beginning at 5:00 a.m. for maintenance lifts of the bridge’s lift span.  Port crews will lift the span twice for maintenance lubrication to the lift span drive cables and moving parts.  Motorists should expect delays of 30 to 45 minutes beginning at 5:00 a.m. Thursday, depending on traffic volume.