Legislation to move forward the Mt. Hood/Cooper Spur land exchange passed the Senate unanimously, and is headed to the president to be signed into law.  Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Congressmen Greg Walden and Earl Blumenauer introduced the Mt. Hood Cooper Spur Land Exchange Clarification Act earlier this year to help resolve the nearly nine-year-long dispute over proposed land development on the northeast side of Mt. Hood.  Congress passed a broad public lands bill in 2009 that included the Mt. Hood land exchange as part of the Mt. Hood Wilderness designation, allowing development of approximately 100 acres near Government Camp while protecting more than 700 acres on the north side of the mountain.  That law directed the U.S. Forest Service to complete the exchange within 16 months.  However, multiple delays stalled the exchange, frustrated community members,and sparked a lawsuit against the Forest Service.

Mid-Columbia Economic Development District held its first meeting overseeing public transportation planning in Wasco, Hood River, Sherman, Gilliam, and Wheeler counties.  MCEDD is taking over services handled by the Mid-Columbia Council of Governments, which is being dismantled.  The Dalles Mayor Steve Lawrence was named chair of the new transportation panel.  Lawrence noted the meeting included an Oregon Department of Transportation representative who explained the new state transportation package includes in excess of a half-a-million dollars for public transportation in Wasco County, and he’s excited about the possibilities, including having some fixed routes, transportation to Columbia Gorge Community College, and special routes to larger employers.  Other possibilities included expanded bus service between Hood River and The Dalles, and more connections into Klickitat County.

With the potential for snow in the forecast this coming week, Hood River city officials are reminding residents of parking regulations during snow emergencies.  City Manager Steve Wheeler says he will declare snow emergencies when there is three inches or more of snowfall, and when that happens parking should take place on the south and west sides of streets, so snow plowing can be done effectively.  In addition, during snow emergencies there is no parking allowed in the downtown core between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. to allow for plowing, and businesses and residents are responsible for shoveling sidewalks in front of their properties.  Complete snow emergency regulations are online at cityofhoodriver.com.

Wrestling Hood River Valley 57, Stevenson 18:  Jonathan Garcia, Ryan Zeller, Alberto Rojas, and Justin Lane all had wins by fall for HRV.  Braeden Waymire won by fall for Stevenson.   Boys Basketball Columbia 59, Dufur 35 Stevenson 99, Lyle-Wishram 73 South Wasco 52, Country Christian 50 Horizon Christian 64, Echo 44 Klickitat 34, Griswold 33   Girls Basketball Country Christian 55, South Wasco 35 Horizon Christian 44, Echo 25

After a number of years of anticipation, LifeFlight is moving into the flex building near the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport.  Klickitat County Commissioner David Sauter says they are moving into 49 percent of the space in that facility.  Sauter says they are starting to get interest in other lots in the airport development, and he hopes activity in the flex building sparks more businesses to forsee a future there, but he adds they have received input that the commercial sector of Dallesport needs to developed.  He notes some potential tenants have given input indicating they would like to see a restaurant and a store where employees can get lunch and do other things.

Girls Wrestling Hood River Valley 30, Washougal 24:  Alexis McCafferty, Monique Verduzco, and Christine Marquez won by fall for the Eagles.   Boys Basketball Lyle-Wishram 62, Goldendale 56:  Riley Mills scored 18 points for the Cougars, who used a 22-4 run in the second quarter to take control of the game.   Girls Basketball Goldendale 52, Lyle-Wishram 28

Port of Hood River Commissioners gave their approval to an intergovernmental agreement with the Oregon Department of Transportation outlining terms and conditions for five million dollars in state funding for planning tasks to develop a plan to replace the Interstate Bridge.  The IGA now goes to ODOT officials for their signatures.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says the planning effort will begin immediately, starting with bringing in a project manager.  That will involve a public selection process that will see them under contract with an engineering firm by May or June.  A large portion of the state funding will go toward development of an environmental impact statement for a new bridge.

Klickitat County Commissioners have approved the County budget for 2018 and a road plan for the next six years.  The road plan is revised every year.  County Commissioner David Sauter says one of the projects that will enter the planning stages in 2018 will be upgrades to Courtney Road.  Sauter says Courtney Road is an old one-lane road that doesn’t meet current standards, but more and more people are using it for recreational purposes, adding fires in the Snowden area a few years ago highlighted how critical improving that road can be for emergency purposes as fire trucks were trying to go up it and horse trailers were coming down.  Sauter says part of the road is in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, so the permitting process figures to take a substantial amount of time.  There is about a mile-and-a-half of road to be improved.

Boys Basketball The Dalles 64, Milwaukie 62 Gresham 73, Hood River Valley 49 Columbia 44, Riverside 32 Corbett 82, Stevenson 70 Sherman 74, Yakama Tribal 57 Zillah 82, Goldendale 41   Girls Basketball Milwaukie 42, The Dalles 31:  Paulina Finn scored 17 points and Bailey LeBreton 10 to pace the Riverhawks. Lakeridge 62, Hood River Valley 37:  Lauren Orr topped the Eagles with 18 points. Riverside 52, Columbia 25 Stevenson 71, Corbett 45 Zillah 72, Goldendale 22

The project to install a new field-turf surface and track at Hood River Valley High School’s Henderson Stadium will now start in May.  Hood River County School District Superintendent Dan Goldman says they considered April, but decided to wait a month to lessen the disruption on high school track program practices.  The goal is to have a grand opening at the school’s Homecoming next fall.  The installation schedule means a new site will have to be found for Hood River Valley High School’s graduation ceremony in June.  Goldman says high school administration is involving students in considering where to move that event.