The Medical Teams International Dental Van will be at One Community Health in Hood River next Wednesday (May 16) to treat uninsured patients who have no other access to care and exhibit urgent dental needs like pain, swelling, or possible decay.  One Community Health CEO Dave Edwards says they bring in the dental van about three times a year to help those with no other access care.  The van does not do cleanings, root canals, crowns, dentures, or bridgework.  For more information or to book an appointment, call One Community Health at 541-386-6380.  

The Wasco County budget committee will get the proposed fiscal plan on May 16.  County Commission Chair Steve Kramer says the five-member panel will go through the document prepared by both commissioners and the staff.  He notes the budget picture at this time is stable.  Kramer said there are no significant changes to the budget from the current fiscal year.

The Gifford Pinchot National Forest is conducting a forest-wide analysis of 210 developed recreation sites, including campgrounds, picnic sites, visitor information sites, trailheads, and cabin/lookout rentals.  The analysis, information gathered from the public, and subsequent recommendations will result in changes to how some sites are managed, what types of changes might be possible, and what investment priorities will be in coming years.  Social, financial, and environmental factors at each site were used to identify a site’s future sustainability.  Initial results revealed over $1.7 million would be needed annually to adequately operate and maintain these sites at their current level, which results in a funding shortfall of over $700,000.  In addition, backlog maintenance on these sites is over $10 million, far above Forest Service funding capacity.  Additional developed recreation site information, and maps can be found at the Gifford Pinchot National Forest website.

North Wasco County School District 21 is pre-registering kindergarteners this week for the 2018-19 school year at all district elementary schools.  Parents are asked to bring their child’s birth certificate, immunization records, vision and dental screening certification, and proof of physical address.  But D-21 Superintendent Candy Armstrong says if parents don’t have all of those items, they should still come in to get the child registered, as there is plenty of time to get all the necessary paperwork pulled together.  For more information contact the D-21 elementary school nearest you.

When the North Wasco County School District 21 board reconvenes later this month, the long-running discussion of what to do with the Columbia View Heights property will be on the agenda.  The board has begun to discuss the potential to surplus over 69 acres of that land while keeping about 30 acres for a potential new elementary or K-8 school.  D-21 Superintendent Candy Armstrong says the discussion came about through the community discussions on the need for new school buildings, and one question they kept hearing was what the district would with properties it currently holds.  The Columbia View Heighs property is zoned residential, but has infrastructure needs.

When the Columbia Gorge Express resumes operations this summer, it will go further east than Multnomah Falls.  The express service from Portland’s Gateway Transit Center provided through the Oregon Department of Transportation will now include stops in Cascade Locks and Hood River.  Hood River County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Michael Glover sees this as a long-term project, noting if the service can help attract small business conferences.  Glover says the unknown is how many people will choose to use the Columbia Gorge Express to travel to Hood River.

The Dalles Wastewater Treatment Plant has discharged effluent into the Columbia River that exceeds the plant’s limit for E. Coli due to incomplete disinfection.  The Dalles Public Works Department says sample test results received Saturday confirmed that.  The cause is unknown at this point, and the frequency of sampling is being increased until E. Coli counts are back within permit limits.  Warning signs indicating contaminated water and advising no water contact are being placed at public river access points on the Oregon shore of the Columbia River from The Dalles Riverfront Park to the West Mayer Park boat launch.

A Goldendale man died from injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident Saturday afternoon on Highway 97 about ten miles north of Goldendale.  According to the Washington State Patrol, 60-year-old Mark Hodges died at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland.  The accident occurred when the motorcycle Hodges was riding was struck by a car driven by a 23-year-old Richland woman.  The WSP report indicated both were northbound on Highway 97 when the woman was making a left turn onto Lower Road as Hodges attempted to pass the vehicle on the left.  The accident remains under investigation.

Baseball Hood River Valley 1, Hermiston 0:  Grayson Losee fired a two-hitter while striking out 11.  The only run of the game came in the sixth inning, when J.J. Mears tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Issac Beaman. Pendleton 10, The Dalles 0 Columbia 12, Castle Rock 5:  The Bruins finished in a three-way tie for first in the Trico League, and will play at Hoquiam today at 4 p.m. to begin the Southwest Washington Class 1A Tournament. Sherman sweeps Culver 6-0 and 12-5:  The Huskies stay unbeaten in Class 1A District 6 with the win. Heppner sweeps Dufur 11-5 and 15-5.   Softball Hood River Valley 11, Hermiston 1:  Hannah McNerney and Kaylin Winans homered in the first inning as the Eagles clinched second place in the Columbia River Conference. Pendleton 10, The Dalles 0 LaCenter sweeps Stevenson 20-0 and 19-0   Track and Field Trout Lake won both the boys and girls titles at the Greater Columbia Gorge League Championships in Bickleton.  Glenwood’s Kevan Bren won three events on the boys’ side of the meet, while Brooklyn Emerson of Glenwood grabbed three first places on the girls side.   Goldendale boys were third and girls fourth at the High Mountain Classic in Cle Elum.  Dillon Rising won both the boys’ 800 and 1600 meters, and Allison Gilliam swept the girls’ hurdles races.   Lyle-Wishram was the boys’ winner and South Wasco the girls’ victor at the Arlington Invitational.  Brandon Montoya led the Cougar boys with four first place finishes, while Ana Popchock did the same for the South Wasco girls.   Girls Tennis Stevenson 3, Three Rivers Christian 2

Track and Field Columbia’s boys and girls finished second in a five-school meet at Seton Catholic.  Alex Medina and Margo Mayo each won two events for the Bruins. Stevenson’s boys finished first and the girls second in a four-school competition at LaCenter.  The Bulldogs’ Lincoln Krog won three events, while Issac Hoidal was first in two.   Girls Lacrosse Lincoln 8, Hood River Valley 4:   The Cardinals took over first place in the Portland League with the win.  Abigail Bartles scored three goals for Hood River.   Boys Tennis Goldendale 3, Naches Valley 2   Girls Tennis Goldendale 3, Naches Valley 2