It has been an uncommonly busy month for search and rescue crews in Skamania County.  Skamania County Undersheriff Pat Bond says in May they have received 19 calls for service, compared to four in the same time period one year ago.  Bond says they are seeing a bigger influx of hikers…particularly in the Mt. St. Helens area.  He adds hikers should be prepared for changing conditions, don’t go on to closed trails, and communicate plans with others.  Bond says while they use a number of volunteers in search and rescue, the large number of search and rescue operations does create a big drain on sheriff’s department resources.

High Columbia River water levels are effectively shrinking Hood River waterfront recreation beaches and parks.  Spring runoff is causing high water levels throughout the Columbia/Snake River system, but local concerns are focused on water safety in the run up to Memorial Day weekend.  The Port of Hood River says several local kiting and windsurfing schools are offering guide services now to provide safety and support for the unique water conditions.  Kite launching is still permitted from the Event Site but only in designated areas.  River current is stronger than normal at all waterfront beaches, so life jackets and constant adult supervision is a must for children swimming at the Marina Beach, the Hood River Waterfront Park beach, and even Frog, or Slackwater, Beach in the Nichols Basin.  Boaters and anglers are also urged to use caution, as the high water and stronger currents are creating navigational condition changes with hidden and floating debris in the river, including large logs.

Oregon Girls Lacrosse Association Semi-Finals Lake Oswego 14, Hood River Valley 9:  The top-seeded Lakers took the lead early and never looked back on the way to grabbing a berth in Thursday’s championship game.  The Eagles finished their season with a 13-4 record.

The City of The Dalles has received a suggestion from some citizens to look at “The Portland Loo” as a way to provide public toilets.  Mayor Steve Lawrence says the initial cost of the solar-powered, durable stainless steel makes it prohibitive for the City to buy them, but they will participate if advocates want to do fundraising for them, adding there are a number of advantages to them.  The design of the loo is intended to deter illicit activity.  A potential site is the City parking lot across from St. Peter’s Landmark.

Hood River County Commissioners denied an appeal by the Hood River Valley Residents Committee of a decision at the staff level to extend the commercial land use permit to build the DeeTour amphitheater at the former Dee Mill site.  Project proponent Apollo Land Holdings had asked for the one-year extension of the permit initially approved in 2014.  The Residents Committee appealed, claiming the initial approval of the extension was improperly processed as a ministerial decision, and because the approval criteria changed with the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals decision that led to eventual denial of a permit to build a hotel on the site.  The County Planning Commission had initially denied the appeal in January.

There will be a brief full closure of the Hood River/White Salmon Interstate Bridge on Wednesday beginning at 9:30 a.m. for a bridge lift.   The closure is expected to last about 20 minutes.  Delays of up to 30 minutes are expected, depending on traffic volume.  Bridge users are advised to plan for delay or seek alternate routes during the lift.  For more information, call (541) 386-1645.

The Oregon Department of Transportation’s Columbia Gorge Express bus service begins its third year on Friday, and now it will go as far east as Hood River and operate seven days a week, year-round.  On Friday the bus will begin Friday-Saturday-Sunday service – plus Memorial Day — from Gateway Transit Center in Portland to Rooster Rock State Park, Multnomah Falls, Cascade Locks and Hood River.  On June 11, the bus will start service seven days a week, year-round.  Service will begin at 8:30 a.m. Friday when the first bus of the day leaves Gateway Transit Center.  The last bus of the day departs Hood River for Portland at 7:10 p.m.  In 2016, season one surpassed expectations with nearly 30,000 trips over 18 weekends between Portland and Multnomah Falls, and season two in summer 2017 saw average daily ridership increase by about ten percent over just 15 weekends, with the last three weekends cancelled because of the Eagle Creek Fire.  For a full schedule, tickets, and more information go to www.ColumbiaGorgeExpress.com.

The Dalles Public Works Department will be flushing water mains through fire hydrants over the next few weeks.  Water mains are flushed annually in order to clean out deposits, sediments and rust from distribution pipelines, minimize water quality problems, test fire protection water pressures, exercise hydrant valves, and identify hydrants that need to be repaired or replaced.  Motorists and pedestrians are asked to avoid driving or walking through the water coming directly from a hydrant while the main is being flushed.  Occasionally main flushing causes water flowing from a tap to be discolored from stirred up sediment or milky white caused by tiny air bubbles.  Although discolored water won’t make you sick, you might want to flush the pipe by running the water for several minutes before drinking or washing.  If the water does not clear, please contact The Dalles Public Works office at 541-296-5401.

Hood River County Circuit Judge John Olson issued a ruling today that calls for a Vancouver teenager to pay restitution of over 36 million dollars to cover the costs of dealing with the Eagle Creek Fire while acknowledging it is unlikely the juvenile will ever cover that bill.  Olson’s order says a payment plan can be set up, and payments can be stopped in a decade as long as the teen complies with it, finishes his probation requirements, and stays out of trouble.  The costs involve fighting the massive fire the juvenile caused when he threw fireworks into Eagle Creek Canyon last September and repair and restoration for the damage it caused.  The U.S. Forest Service was the largest claimant, seeking over 21 million dollars.  The teenager’s attorney, Jack Morris, called the request figures “absurd” during a hearing last Thursday.

Four people have filed to run for one District 14 position in the Washington State House of Representatives, while two Democrats are challenging Republican incumbent Gina Mosbrucker for the other.  The filing period for the August 7 primary election ended on Friday.  Among those seeking the position one seat being vacated by the retiring Norm Johnson are Yakima Republicans Kathy Coffey and Chris Corry, White Salmon Democrat Sasha Bentley, and Yakima Democrat Earl Steven Lee.  Mosbrucker is being challenged by Yakima Democrats Noah Ramirez and Liz Hallock for position two.  Washington uses a “top two” primary system, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the November general election regardless of party affiliation.  Locally, Klickitat County Commissioner David Sauter is opposed by Raymond Clough of Dallesport, and Sheriff Bob Songer is being challenged by Douglas Charters of Bingen.  In Skamania County, current Assessor Gabriel Spencer is on the ballot for the position with Tom Dillon of North Bonneville, and incumbent Prosecuting Attorney Adam Kick is opposed by Dan McGill of Stevenson.