The Union Street Undercrossing in The Dalles has been reopened to all traffic.  Flood waters have receded from the undercrossing, and the road section that was super saturated has dried.  The Union Street Undercrossing closure and extended drying period of the road section is a normal occurrence during the spring water runoff season.

Emergency speed limits have been placed on Highway 97 at the Little Klickitat River Bridge north of Goldendale after a crack was discovered in the roadway.  Washington State Department of Transportation maintenance crews will install a temporary steel plate over the southbound lane of the bridge to cover the crack.  That will reduce the speed limit in both directions at the bridge to 35 miles per hour.  The speed limit will remain at 35 until a more comprehensive fix is implemented.

The Dalles Police Department is investigating a call made to Dry Hollow Elementary School by someone claiming to be the parent of a child with instructions on where they child should go after school on Monday, but that person was not the parent.  The Dalles Police Chief Pat Ashmore said in a statement that the school followed existing protocol and believed they had confirmed the identity of the caller, and gave the child directions to the location.  The child’s actual parent located the student, who was unharmed.  Ashmore says it is not known if the incident was the result of a misguided prank or if there was some kind of ill intent, but it is under investigation by local law enforcement.  He added parents should be vigilant but not panic until more information is known about the incident.  There will be additional law enforcement presence at schools in The Dalles at pickup and dropoff times until the end of the school year.  Those who might have any information on the case are asked to call The Dalles Police Department at 541-296-2613.

A ribbon cutting ceremony unveiled the newly renovated STEAM Center at Wy’east Middle School in Odell.  The new area to incorporate hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics education includes a makerspace design and fabrication lab, flex and science labs, a laser cutter and 3-D printer among other tools, and an outdoor learning space still under development.  Hood River County School District Superintendent Dan Goldman called it the district’s “premier learning space” as it integrates the outdoors and a focus on making and problem solving.  The facility was developed through a bond measure passed by district voters in 2016.

Work continues on Hood River’s Children’s Park, and the call has gone out for more volunteers.  Hood River Mayor Paul Blackburn said today they need volunteers to keep the project on track to be finished by Sunday.  All skill levels are needed to help in the construction of the play structure.  There are three shifts each day this week:  8 a.m. to noon, 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  For more information go to the City of Hood River website.

The Port of Hood River Commission approved beginning the paid parking on Port-owned areas of the Hood River waterfront this coming Monday.  A fee schedule was approved during the Port board’s Tuesday meeting.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says much of the necessary equipment is in place.  McElwee adds citations won’t be issued during the first week so people can get used to the new parking configuration.  He said courtesy notices informing users that paid parking is in effect will be distributed.

The Next Door is about to embark on a capital campaign to help pay for its recent acquisition of the former Mid-Columbia Council of Governments building in The Dalles.  Development officer Justine Ziegler says purchase of the building and renovations is costing the agency about $750,000.  Ziegler says they are still working with their campaign consultant on materials to officially roll out the fundraising effort.

Interim Forest Service Chief Vicki Christensen outlined the “surge capacity” in place for air tankers during the upcoming fire season in the West during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday.  During questioning from Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, Christensen said if the Forest Service has deployed all of its air tankers, they will turn to the Department of Defense, along with Canada.  Wyden was highlighting ongoing concerns he heard from Oregonians last week at town halls and other public meetings about how the agency will protect communities from wildfires using air tankers.

How to improve Hood River’s Heights for walkers, bicyclists, and motorists will be the subject of a “walkshop” being put on by the City of Hood River and the Hood River Valley Residents Committee on Wednesday.  “Walkability” expert Dan Burden will conduct a walking tour of the Heights with community members to outline ways to enhance transportation and the area.  The event will start at the Hood River Armory at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.  It’s being done as the City embarks on the Heights Urban Renewal Project.

YouthThink of Wasco County is using some grant dollars to help provide people a better sense of attachment through volunteerism.  The organization is promoting JustServe.org as a place where people can register to be available for various projects, and organizations can find volunteers.  Debby Jones of YouthThink says a recent Gorge-wide community health assessment showed many people listed a lack of sense of attachment as a health concern.  JustServe.org uses zip codes to notify those who sign up of projects in their area.