A man was killed after being hit by a train Saturday morning just of west of the Interstate 84 exit 82 overpass near The Dalles.  Wasco County Sheriff’s Sergeant Scott Williams says the man’s name is not yet being released pending notification of next of kin, but confirmed he was a 43-year-old transient from The Dalles area.  Williams says it is believed the man was walking east along the tracks when a train also traveling east struck the man from behind.  The man was pronounced dead at the scene.  There are no signs of foul play but anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office at 541-296-5454.

The Washington State House Education Committee approved a bill sponsored by 14^th District Representative Gina McCabe that would help keep students safe while they ride on the school bus.  It would require all school buses manufactured or assembled after September 1, 2019 to be equipped with a shoulder harness-type seat belt.  Every school bus would also be required to have automated school bus safety cameras used to detect ‘stop paddle’ violations and other vehicle infractions.  Revenues collected from enforcing ‘stop paddle’ violations would help fund seat belt installation and school bus replacement incentives, as well as assist law enforcement agencies in providing additional officers who can help enforce infractions in school safety zones.  Six states currently require seat belts on school buses.  The bill has been referred to the House Appropriations Committee for further consideration.

Boys Basketball Hood River Valley 62, Pendleton 58 The Dalles 91, Hermiston 85 Horizon Christian 62, Ione 51 Horizon Christian 64, Mitchell-Spray 32 Sherman 86, Condon-Wheeler 53 Sherman 79, Arlington 27 Arlington 46, Dufur 39 Dufur 70, Condon-Wheeler 62 South Wasco 43, Mitchell-Spray 34 Ione 67, South Wasco 49 Klickitat-Glenwood 73, Lyle-Wishram 64 Yakama Nation 75, Trout Lake 51 Goldendale 70, Granger 65 Goldendale 59, Cle-Elum Roslyn 55   Girls Basketball Pendleton 45, Hood River Valley 28 Hermiston 52, The Dalles 46 Horizon Christian 52, Ione 38 Horizon Christian 56, Mitchell-Spray 34 Sherman 40, Condon-Wheeler 26 Sherman 55, Arlington 40 Dufur 53, Arlington 18 Dufur 47, Condon-Wheeler 28 South Wasco 49, Mitchell-Spray 10 South Wasco 61, Ione 45 Lyle-Wishram 53, Klickitat-Glenwood 29 Yakama Nation 93, Trout Lake 54 Granger 76, Goldendale 36 Cle Elum-Roslyn 75, Goldendale 26   Wrestling Goldendale finished fifth at the SCAC West Tournament at Granger.  Dusty Dodge had the best finishes for the Timberwolves with a second at 152 pounds, while Goldendale also earned three thirds and two fourths.  Zillah won the team title.   Nordic Skiing Hood River Valley’s boys were fourth and the girls sixth in a Northern League race at Mt. Bachelor.  Finn Peterson was 16^th for the HRV boys, and Josephine Dickinson was eighth for the Eagle girls.

Monday night will be a busy night for public meetings in the area.  The Dalles City Council will hold a town hall on a proposed exclusion zone ordinance at 5:30 p.m. at Mid-Columbia Senior Center.  Northern Wasco County Parks and Recreation District will hold a community open house to discuss Firehouse Park’s dog off-leash police from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue Station #2 at 525 Wasco Drive in The Dalles.  And the Hood River County Commission will conduct a public hearing on its proposed sales and tourist tax ordinance at 6 p.m. in the County Administration Building.

As Oregon’s high school 4-year cohort graduation rate continues a steady climb, the graduation rate for many historically underserved student groups is rising faster than the state average.  The four-year graduation rate for students in the class of 2017 is 77 percent, 2 percentage points higher than last year’s rate.  The statewide average four-year graduation rate has increased 4.7 points over three years.  In the same period, the rate has increased by more than 7 percentage points for Hispanic/Latino students, Black/African American students, multiracial students, special education students, and migrant students.  For local districts, Hood River County School District’s graduation rate was just under 84 percent.  North Wasco County School District 21’s grad rate for 2017 was 73 percent.  Among smaller districts Dufur was at 96 percent and Sherman 82 percent.

Boys Basketball Stevenson 101, Columbia 63:  Maclan Hall made six of Stevenson’s 18 three-point field goals in the game.  Hall and Issac Holdal led the Bulldogs with 26 points.  William Gross was the high scorer for the Bruins with 18.   Girls Basketball Stevenson 60, Columbia 48

The Hood River County School District board approved a guaranteed maximum price for construction of the new May Street Elementary School of $24.981 million.  The district has been working with its general contractor for the project, Kirby Nagelhout Construction, on value engineering to bring the cost down after contractor bids came in that reflected an extraordinarily busy construction market.  District Superintendent Dan Goldman says when the bids first came in, they were at $27 million.  He noted most of the changes they made to save money were cosmetic, and should allow other projects planned through the bond measure to proceed.  Construction work on the new school adjacent to the current May Street Elementary will commence in February.

Mid-Columbia cherry tree growers are being asked to be alert for signs of viruses infecting trees so they can stop their spread.  Oregon State University plant pathologist Dr. Jay Pscheidt says evidence of Cherry Leaf Roll has been found in isolated areas of the region.  Pscheidt notes he does not think it is an intensive problem at this time, but they want to make sure the viruses do not spread.  Pscheidt says growers are asked to look for certain symptoms, including enations on leaves and fruit that does not ripen or color properly and has little flavor.  Once the disease is established, tree removal is the only way to stop it.

North Wasco County School District 21 is getting ready to put its vision for a potential bond measure later this year before the public.  Superintendent Candy Armstrong says they are starting to prepare community presentations on the topic.  D-21 officials have been preparing for a bond measure to restore and rehabilitate school facilities.  They have been targeting putting a measure on the November ballot.

A bill that would help ensure students in grades K-12 know how to report sexual abuse has passed the House Education Committee.  The legislation, known as Erin’s Law, calls for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish a coordinated program to provide age-appropriate information and training pertaining to the prevention of sexual abuse of students, and disseminate existing information and curricula to school districts.  Goldendale Representative Gina McCabe is sponsoring the bill, saying it is a necessary means to helping Washington children escape abusive situations and relationships.  Thirty-one states have enacted Erin’s Law legislation.  The 2018 legislative session began January 8 and is scheduled to run 60 consecutive days.