The juvenile accused of starting September’s Eagle Creek Fire entered into a plea agreement in court Friday, admitting to twelve misdemeanor counts before Hood River County Circuit Judge John Olson.  The 15-year-old, whose name has not been released due to ongoing concerns for the safety of the juvenile and his family, admitted to eight counts of reckless burning, two counts of throwing away lighted materials, one count of criminal mischief, and one count of reckless endangerment.  Olson affirmed the plea deal reached between Hood River County District Attorney John Sewell and lead defense attorney Jack Morris, placing the teenager on probation for up to five years and ordering him to perform 1,920 hours of community service, much of it to be done in coordination with the U.S. Forest Service.  Financial restitution will be addressed at a May 17 hearing.  The juvenile read a statement in court, saying he thought about his terrible decision every day, apologizes with all his heart, and that he will work hard to rebuild the community he damaged and hopefully earn forgiveness.  Morris noted the teenager had never been in trouble before, and comes from a tight and supportive family.  Morris said the juvenile was in the area with friends and had two fireworks designed to explode in the air.  The young man set off one that he threw in the air where it exploded, but the second had a longer fuse, hit the ground and ignited, starting the fire.  Sewell said there was no evidence to support felony charges, adding all involved had been cooperative in the investigation.   A number of victims ranging from individuals to representatives of governmental agencies testified to the physical, financial, and emotional damage the reckless act caused.

In his first session in the Oregon Legislature, 29th District Representative Daniel Bonham has presented two bills for consideration.  One is before the House Ag and Natural Resources Committee, and Bonham says it would expand the good neighbor authority agreed to by the Governor and the U.S. Forest Service to allow Oregon departments of Forestry and Fish and Wildlife to conduct projects on federal forest lands.  The emphasis would be on revenue generating projects to allow infrastructure to build up the timber industry.  Bonham says Idaho has taken similar steps in that state.

This coming Wednesday will be the day students in Oregon will not be able to go to school unless their immunization records are up to date.  Trish Elliott of the Hood River County Health Department says parents were sent notices last week if there is no record of their children having required shots.  Under state law. it is the parent’s responsibility to inform schools and day care providers their child has had their shots and provide proof.  Elliott said in Hood River County the number of warning letters sent out this year was down to 150, a drop of about 100 from last year.

Hood River County is receiving a nearly 70-thousand dollar grant from Pacific Power’s Blue Sky energy program to outfit the County’s Health Department building with a roof-mounted solar installation and battery back-up system.  The Health Department building currently has a diesel backup generator, to ensure that the County’s supply of vaccines stay refrigerated during power outages.  The addition of solar batteries to the system will provide a demonstration project showing how batteries can become the building’s primary backup power source, minimizing the use of diesel, and greatly extending the amount of time the combined backup system can provide power in an emergency situation.  The location is well-suited for solar, with a mostly-unshaded, south-facing roof.   The grant of $69,672 will help get the project producing power by June.

The Hood River County School District will seek a five-year renewal of its local option levy during the May election.  School board members voted to place the issue on the ballot during their Tuesday night meeting.  The levy would remain up to a dollar-25 per thousand dollars of assessed value, where it has been since 2008.  The original option levy passed in 2005 was for a dollar-50 per thousand.  Board chair Mark Johnson says the local option has become a critical piece in maintaining district programs.  If approved, the local option levy qualifies the district to receive a 28 percent match from the state.

A familiar face will spend the rest of the school year as interim principal at Chenowith Elementary School in The Dalles.  Stephen Jupe, who served as principal at The Dalles-Wahtonka High School for nearly a decade before becoming superintendent of the Scappoose School District, has taken on the position.  Jupe takes over for Dick Kessler, who had been in the position since mid-September but requested to be relieved of his duties so he could return to retirement.  North Wasco County School District 21 officials say the process for selecting the next principal at Chenowith is getting underway.  Parent and staff feedback will be solicited this month and the position will be posted in March for the 2018-2019 school year.  The new principal will begin work on July 1.

The Hood River Urban Renewal Agency gave its go-ahead for the Port of Hood River to do an in-depth review of infrastructure needs for development of Lot 1 on the Waterfront.  The Port will pay for the study that will look at the type and cost of infrastructure needed on Lot 1.  City Manager and Urban Renewal Administrator Steve Wheeler says this is a key component to Lot 1 planning.  Once the study is done, the Port and Urban Renewal will then look at how to pay for the infrastructure, which will probably involve the Waterfront Urban Renewal District.

The Columbia River Gorge Commission will hold two public meetings in the area to summarize comments received during the initial public scoping progress last year on the “Gorge 2020” process to review and revise the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Management Plan.  Commission Executive Director Krystyna Wolniakowski says they have distilled the comments of received last year down to different focus areas.  The four focus topics include economic vitality, urban area boundaries, emerging land uses and the development review process, and recreation.  One meeting will be held Thursday evening from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Hegewald Center in Stevenson, with another this Tuesday at the same time at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center.

Boys Basketball Pendleton 70, Hood River Valley 54:  Tyler Newsome made four three-point field goals in the third quarter as the Buckaroos pulled away to the win.  Newsome led Pendleton with 26 points.  Jonah Tactay was the Eagles’ leading scorer with 12. Hermiston 46, The Dalles 41:  The Riverhawks came made an 11 point run to tie the game in the fourth quarter, but Ryne Andreason scored nine of his 18 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Bulldogs.  Jacob Hernandez topped The Dalles with 19, ten coming in the final period.   Southwest Washington Class 1A District Tournament Stevenson 80, Hoquiam 73:  Isaac Hoidal scored 22, Lincoln Krog added 20 and Stevenson withstood persistent late comeback attempts to defeat Hoquiam in a loser-out game.  The Bulldogs meet Seton Catholic at King’s Way Christian on Thursday night at 7:30.   Washington Class 1B District 5 Tournament Yakama Tribal 82, Trout Lake 52   Girls Basketball Hermiston 39, The Dalles 31:  The Bulldogs scored the final eight points of  the game to win.  Jordan Thomas topped Hermiston with 16 points.  Jodi Thomasian led The Dalles with 13 points. Pendleton 50, Hood River Valley 28:  The Buckaroos jumped out to a 27-4 first half lead on the way to clinching a second straight Columbia River Conference championship.   Washington Class 1B District 5 Tournament Yakama Tribal 62, Trout Lake 29    

The Dalles City Council approved a zone change for a mobile home park on the corner of West 10th and Hostetler from Commercial/Light Industrial to Residential Medium Density.  The change is being made as the property changes hands.  It had previously been a non-conforming use in the Commercial/Light Industrial Zone, and Mayor Steve Lawrence says the change will allow for development of additional manufactured homes, which falls in line with the Council’s goal to create more housing opportunities.  Lawrence added the City Planning Department is preparing recommendations for zoning amendments to create more opportunities to develop housing in The Dalles.