The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs has issued a request for proposal for an experienced, qualified organization to operate and provide management services for its skilled nursing homes in The Dalles and Lebanon.  ODVA owns the Oregon Veterans’ Home in The Dalles and a similar facility in Lebanon. where honored veterans, veteran spouses and qualified Gold Star parents live and receive rehabilitative, memory care, residential and medical care and services from caring and highly trained staff.  This RFP is designed to award a single contract for the operations and management services of the two Veterans’ Homes to a qualified organization.  The RFP and attachments can be obtained on the Oregon Procurement Information Network website at orpin.oregon.gov.  Proposals are due by March 23.

The Dalles City Council on Monday evening will consider a proposal from a Madras organization that is looking to merge with Home At Last Humane Society and operate the animal shelter in The Dalles.  Home At Last has been dealing with financial issues over the last couple of months, and the City, Wasco County, and the organization’s board have been seeking solutions.  The non-profit Central Oregon Animal Friends in Madras, whose executive director Stephen Drynan and his wife Jerilee were involved with Home At Last a number of years ago, has proposed merging with Home At Last and operating the shelter.  The City and Wasco County are both being asked to make a one-time contribution of $25,000 to help the merger go forward.  The City Council will consider the topic at their meeting on Monday at 5:30 p.m. in The Dalles City Hall.

Oregon State 60th District Representative Cliff Bentz has been selected to fill the 30th District Senate position being vacated by Ted Ferrioli.  Bentz was selected in John Day on Thursday by a vote of county commissioners from Wasco, Baker, Deschutes, Jefferson, Lake, Grant, Harney, Malheur and Wheeler counties.  He will fill the remainder of Ferrioli’s term in office.  Ferrioli resigned after being appointed to the Northwest Power & Conservation Council by Governor Kate Brown.  Bentz has served in the Oregon House of Representatives since 2008, and is a rancher, farmer, and attorney.  The other candidates considered were Dr. Cliff Wattenburg of Deschutes County and Suzan Jones of Baker County.

The Oregon Department of Transportation says Highway 97 was closed in both directions Friday morning one mile north of its intersection with Highway 197 due to crashes involving multiple jackknifed semi-trucks.  One lane has now been reopened, with flaggers controlling traffic.  Fog and ice are creating dangerous driving conditions in that area.  Motorists should avoid that area until the weather improves, if possible, or make other travel plans.

Boys Basketball St. Helens 50, Hood River Valley 40:  The Lions broke open a close game in the fourth quarter.  Erik Siekkinen led HRV with 13 points. LaGrande 74, The Dalles 68:  The Riverhawks drop to 6-5 on the season with the loss. Columbia 47, Castle Rock 46:  The Bruins forced turnovers on ten straight Rocket possessions to come from behind for the win. LaCenter 87, Stevenson 69 Horizon Christian 64, Klickitat-Glenwood 39   Girls Basketball Hood River Valley 41, St. Helens 40:  Haylee Baker scored 11 points as the Eagles won for the eighth time in 13 games. Castle Rock 47, Columbia 43 LaCenter 75, Stevenson 37 Horizon Christian 53, Klickitat-Glenwood 44

North Wasco County School District 21 is working with the Oregon Food Bank and other organizations to establish a food pantry at the Wahtonka Community School.  D-21 Superintendent Candy Armstrong says the district would provide the space, with others staffing it.  Armstrong says the Wahtonka campus is already the location of a number of programs, and there is a need for a food pantry easy to access on the west side of The Dalles.  Armstrong notes hunger impacts education tremendously, saying when a child and family is worried about whether they can eat or not, it’s hard to concentrate on academics.

The period for non-profit organizations to apply for grants from the City of The Dalles is underway.  Projects and programs that demonstrate how they would stimulate economic development or tourism, or provide social benefit, in the community are eligible for consideration.  Applications will be taken until January 31, and are available at the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall on 313 Court Street, and online at thedalles.org on the home page under What’s Happening.  Applications will be reviewed by the City Manager’s office, which will make recommendations to the City Council.  Approved applications will be submitted for funding through the annual budget process, with funds being awarded after July 1.  For more information contact City Clerk Izetta Grossman at 541-296-5481, ext. 119.

A kitchen fire damaged an apartment in The Dalles on Monday.  Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue Chief Bob Palmer says the fire occurred at around 8:30 Monday morning at 1721 East 12th.  He says the occupant of the apartment left a burner in the kitchen unattended while doing laundry, and when that person returned found the entire kitchen on fire.  Palmer noted the resident used extinguishers and buckets of water to help quell the fire before crews arrived.  Palmer says the apartment in which the fire occurred was uninhabitable afterwards with the kitchen gutted, but residents of other apartments in the building where able to return to their homes.  Palmer indicated there was the potential for some water damage in the apartment directly below, and light smoke and odor went into upper apartments.

A public discussion is being planned for next week on the proposed affordable housing development on Hood River’s Lot 700, otherwise known as the Morrison Park property.  Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation and the City of Hood River are partnering on the project, and is expected to develop 60-to-80 units.  Last year, the City moved ahead with rezoning the land for the project over the objections of some who felt Morrison Park represented important open space.  Columbia Cascade Executive Director Joel Madsen says the City has directed them to preserve as much open space as possible.  Madsen says this project may target a population with a more mixed income level than the Hood River Crossing apartments on Cascade Avenue.  The community meeting will be next Tuesday (January 9) at 6 p.m. at Westside Elementary School.

The Hood River County Prevention Department is utilizing a new marijuana education course for teens to education seventh and ninth graders about the drug.  Department director Belinda Ballah says training in the course was provided by CLEAR Alliance based out of Redmond, which is a part of the Oregon Statewide Coalition operated by public health, public safety, and community leaders.  She says the course runs over two class periods, and it is intended to develop critical thinking skills rather than tell kids what to do or not to do.  Ballah says they are awaiting the non-profit CLEAR Alliance to develop a curriculum to use at the fifth grade level.