The Dufur School District Board has approved placing a four million dollar bond measure on the ballot in November.  The move comes shortly after the district received word from the Oregon Department of Education it had received a commitment for four million dollars under the state’s School Capital Matching Grant program.  But to receive the money, the district must get the bond measure approved.  The estimated tax rate would be $1.71 per $1,000 of assessed property value.  A current bond in the Dufur School District for about $3.00 per $1,000 of assessed value will be retired in June 2018.  If approved, the bond and grant proceeds would fund safety and security upgrades, transportation redesign and renovation, energy efficiency improvements in district building, and maximize the usability of existing facilities.

The annual Hood River County Reads program is underway.  This year’s book is Moreno. Prieto. Brown. by Alejandro Jimenez, who came to the Hood River Valley from Mexico at the age of eight, grew up here, and now lives in Denver where he is a community activist.  Jean Harmon of Hood River County Reads says the book is a collection of 16 poems and one short story, much of it autobiographical.  Copies of the book are available at the Cascade Locks and Parkdale libraries, while those who have already received a copy and have finished reading it are asked to either return it or pass it on to someone else.  A series of Hood River County Reads events will be taking place in April, for information go online to hoodriverlibrary.org.

Baseball Hood River Valley 4, Tualatin 3:  Connor Coerper hit a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Eagles to the win after losing four straight in Arizona.  Michael Hasegawa and Greyson Losee drew walks to start the inning to setup the game winner. Sandy 3, The Dalles 0:  The Pioneers limited the Riverhawks to two hits in grabbing the victory. Columbia sweeps Dufur 13-3 and 20-2.   Softball Hood River Valley 8, Clackamas 7:  Back to back doubles by Zoe Munn and Hannah McNerney in the bottom of the seventh inning plated the winning run for the Eagles, who have won ten straight to begin the season.  HRV came back from a 6-0 deficit after two-and-a-half innings.  Munn drove in three runs and McNerney and Lauren Decker two apiece. Sandy 12, The Dalles 9

North Wasco County School District 21 officials are anxiously awaiting a preliminary report coming out of a “civil rights audit” of The Dalles High School by the Oregon Department of Education on behalf of federal agencies.  What started as concern over an imbalance in the past school year in the number of boys enrolled in Career and Technical Education classes as opposed to girls evolved into a study of disabled access in the nearly 80-year-old building.  D-21 Superintendent Candy Armstrong says what the district may be asked to do, and the potential cost, has them concerned given the age of the facility.  Armstrong says when they receive the preliminary report, then discussions will begin with the state education department on what they expect the district to do, and how much it could cost.

It is “Blossom Time” in Hood River County.  The Hood River County Chamber of Commerce promotes the entire month of April as Blossom Time, which has developed over the years from one weekend.  Chamber Executive Director Michael Glover says expanding the season has brought dividends to the tourism sector, with transient room tax receipts showing the impact.  Glover notes the goal of Blossom Time is to get visitors into the mid and upper Hood River Valley and onto the Fruit Loop.  As part of the month, the Chamber’s annual Cider Fest is planned for April 21 in Odell.

The City of The Dalles will be continuing the removal and replacement of oversized or diseased trees on East Second Street beginning April 10th and continuing through the 15th from 6 a.m. to noon each day.  Thirty-seven trees have been identified for removal on East Second Street from the roundabout to past the Post Office.  The parking strip will be clearly marked no parking where the removal and replanting will occur.  Replanting of the trees will be complete before Cherry Festival.

Baseball LaCenter 12, Stevenson 1 Adna 14, Columbia 6 Tri-Cities Prep sweeps Lyle-Klickitat-Wishram 2-0 and 10-7   Softball Glencoe Tournament at Hillsboro Stadium The Dalles 11, Gresham 3 The Dalles 8, Corvallis 6   Tri-Cities Prep sweeps Lyle-Klickitat-Wishram 21-6 and 22-15   Boys Soccer Columbia 2, Washougal 1   Track and Field Goldendale’s boys and girls finished 10^th at the Holder Relays in Yakima.  Three Goldendale athletes earned second place finishes:  Dillon Rising in the boys’ 3200 meters, Tiana Watson in the girls’ discus, and Allison Gilliam in the girls’ 300 meter hurdles.  

The Hood River County School District has been awarded the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Association of School Business Officials International.  That recognizes districts that have met the group’s standards for financial reporting and accountability.  The Hood River district earned the award for the fiscal year ending in 2017.  District Superintendent Dan Goldman says it accomplishes a goal he and district finance director Saundra Buchanan set in 2013 to both create the district’s first ever Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and earn this kind of recognition.  Goldman adds it was important because they felt they needed to demonstrate to the community the district’s financial house was in order, the district’s bond rating had slipped and needed to be brought back up, and helping to maintain a high level of excellence in financial management into the future.

Work will continue this upcoming week on East 12th Street between Kelly Avenue and G Street in The Dalles.  No parking zone signs were being placed Friday ahead of street closures on Monday.  Motorists are asked to park vehicles outside of the work zone during work hours.  On Monday water crews will begin replacement of water services from the main to the meter on both sides of the East 12^th Street from F Street to G Street.  The purpose of the project is to upgrade services lines from galvanized pipe to copper pipe.  Homes affected will be contacted directly about temporary water outages.  A full road closure will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Transportation crews will be patching pavement where water service lines were replaced the previous week on East 12^th Street between Kelly Avenue and F Street.  A full road closures will also be in effect in that area from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Baseball Pride Classic in Ahwatukee, Arizona St. John Bosco (CA) 15, Hood River Valley 7 Dakota Ridge (CO) 11, The Dalles 1   Columbia 12, Goldendale 1   Softball Glencoe Tournament at Hillsboro Stadium Canby 6, The Dalles 4 The Dalles 11, Aloha 4   Columbia 19, Fort Vancouver 9   Boys Soccer Seton Catholic 6, Stevenson 0   Track and Field Lyle-Wishram tied with River View for first place in the boys’ portion of the River View Invitational in Kennewick.  Brandon Montoya won three events:  the 100 meters, 200 meters, and long jump.  The Lyle-Wishram girls finished fifth in their half of the meet, as Larissa McConville finished second in both the javelin and discus.