The new Columbia Gorge Food Bank, which will be serve as a warehouse and distributor for 17 different hunger relief organizations in Wasco, Hood River, and Sherman counties, will hold its formal grand opening next week.  Sharon Thornberry of the Oregon Food Bank says for the last two years they have used the docks at Polehn Farms to handle deliveries, and the new facility has a cooler, freezer, and appropriate storage space.  Thornberry adds the new warehouse will also be able to maintain a supply of food and water in the event of a disaster.  A ribbon cutting at the new facility on 3610 Crates Way in The Dalles will take place next Tuesday at 12:15 p.m., with an open house from noon to 4 p.m.

Hood River County has received the results of a survey on whether citizens would be receptive to a sales and tourist tax to help fund county services.  County Administrator Jeff Hecksel says 53 percent of respondents were against a two percent sales tax and 42 percent said they would vote for it, while if it was coupled with a property tax reduction 51 percent still said no to 46 percent in favor.  Commission Chair Ron Rivers says they will take the results back to the full Commission to discuss where they go from here, noting the County is facing a budget shortfall in the coming fiscal year.  Hecksel added respondents listed roads and bridges, public safety, public health, and parks and trails as the County services most important to them.

Applications for Gorge Works inaugural paid regional internship and apprenticeship opportunities will be available on Friday.  The application period will continue through the end of January.  Port of The Dalles Executive Director Andrea Klaas says there are nine different businesses offering internships in this initial round.  Gorge Works applicants don’t have to be currently involved in an education program.  High school or college coursework, hobbies, work experience, volunteer activities and other means can provide the basis of experience or interest needed for some of the positions.  In most cases, but not all, participants must be at least 18 years old to qualify.  Applications will be available online at gorgeworks.com beginning on Friday.

The Historic Columbia River Highway was closed early Monday morning between Larch Mountain Road and Bridal Veil because trees and other debris have fallen and blocked the road.  High winds and continuing debris fall have made the road unsafe for cleanup crews and there is no timeline for reopening.  The Oregon Department of Transportation was planning to reassess conditions Monday.  The closure points are staffed and local residents are being allowed in as possible.

Boys Basketball Hood River Valley 72, LaGrande 60 Hood River Valley 65, Redmond 40:  HRV wins the Madras Tournament. Sisters 57, The Dalles 43 Columbia 64, Highland 39 Forks 73, Stevenson 50 Damascus Christian 63, Dufur 35 Powder Valley 61, Dufur 55 Pacific 61, South Wasco 26 Powers 34, South Wasco 32 Trout Lake 50, City Christian 35 River View 68, Goldendale 27 Royal 78, Goldendale 55   Girls Basketball Hood River Valley 52, Redmond 43 (overtime):  The Eagles came from 15 points down in the fourth quarter to force overtime, then dominated the extra four minutes to earn the win.  Lauren Orr scored 20 points while Haylee Baker and Emily Curtis added 11 apiece to lead HRV, while Redmond’s Ava Kitchin scored 20 points before fouling out with a little over three minutes to play. Glencoe 53, The Dalles 23 Dufur 45, Damacus Christian 31 Powder Valley 61, Dufur 23 South Wasco 55, Pacific 31 South Wasco 51, Powers 19:  South Wasco wins Pacific Tournament Stevenson 79, Lyle-Wishram 41 Highland 47, Columbia 15 River View 60, Goldendale 35 Goldendale 51, Royal 41   Wrestling Columbia was second, Hood River Valley third, Stevenson fourth, and Goldendale fifth in the Bruin Interstate Invitational in White Salmon.   Washougal won the team title.   Nordic Skiing Hood River Valley’s boys were fourth in the first Northern League Nordic ski race of the season at Mt. Bachelor.  Muir Emmons was the top HRV finisher in 12^th.  HRV was sixth in the girls’ race, with Chloe Bullock finishing 20^th.

The Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility board met for about two hours Friday, mostly in executive session, to discuss a Disability Rights of Oregon report that was extremely critical of NORCOR’s juvenile detention facility, and reached consensus on having NORCOR legal counsel Will Carey and Wasco County attorney Kristen Campbell put together a public response with assistance from NORCOR administrator Bryan Brandenburg and juvenile director Jeff Justesen.  The board along with representatives from sheriff’s offices, juvenile departments, and other county commissioners all indicated they believe most of the accusations in the report are exaggerated, some areas that need correcting are being worked on, and a number of the concerns were things NORCOR is not responsible for.  NORCOR board and Wasco County Commission Chair Rod Runyon said he believes they are moving in a positive direction, adding they have to take any charges seriously.  Other county commissioners were critical of Wasco County’s letter released Wednesday evening that said they would redirect any youth in NORCOR custody to a different facility pending resolution of the findings and recommendations from the report, with Hood River County Commission Chair Ron Rivers saying “We are a four-county institution, we don’t act autonomously.”  Runyon said he feels good about Wasco County youth being at NORCOR, with fellow Wasco County Commissioner Scott Hege adding he feels it’s a quality facility.  Justesen pointed out that Umatilla County have two youth currently in the facility and are not removing them, the Bureau of Indian Affairs did a site visit and will report to the Warm Springs tribal government their children are treated well and safe, and three other counties plan to continue placing juveniles with NORCOR.  The Oregon Youth Authority has been invited to do an inspection in the near future.

Wrestling Hood River Valley 57, St. Helens 18:  The Eagles won eight matches by fall on the way to the dual meet victory. Highland 45, Goldendale 24 Naches Valley 48, Goldendale 24   Boys Basketball West Sydney, Austrailia 69, Lyle-Wishram 68:  Jason Khattar scored 25 points for the Australians, while Riley Mills paced the Cougars with 16.

The Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility Board of Directors will hold an emergency meeting Friday morning to discuss a Disability Rights of Oregon report that was extremely critical of NORCOR’s juvenile detention facility.  In a letter to the NORCOR board on Wednesday night, Wasco County Commissioners said they will immediately redirect any youth in NORCOR custody to a different facility pending resolution of the findings and  recommendations from the report, and also asked for an independent investigation and to have oversight of NORCOR’s juvenile facility turned over to a committee of local juvenile directors.  Wasco County Commission and NORCOR board chair Rod Runyon says before they sent the letter the Oregon Youth Authority had already indicated they would cease sending juveniles to NORCOR, and he has received word about other counties either taking or considering the same step.  Runyon added he doesn’t believe 100 percent of the accusations in the report are true and many of them have been corrected.  Hood River County Commissioner Ron Rivers, who is also on the NORCOR board, felt the report overreacted, adding “I think they were comparing maybe an adult facility to a juvenile facility.  I thought they were totally out of their realm.  There were some deficiencies that were brought up that we are addressing now.”  Friday’s meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the NORCOR juvenile detention center conference room.

A man has been sentenced to 99 months in prison for the killing another man after a fight at an apartment in The Dalles in January.  Zoey Pike received the sentence from Wasco County Circuit Judge Karen Ostrye after an all-day settlement conference.  Pike stabbed Nathan Preyapongpison after a fight in a Liberty Street apartment, with Pike claiming to police he acted in self-defense and thought Preyapongpison had a weapon.  Wasco County District Attorney Eric Nisley said during the sentencing it was a senseless and tragic crime fueled by drugs, alcohol, and jealousy, noting both men were intoxicated and used drugs prior to the fight.  According to court documents, Pike had moved to The Dalles from Seattle to live with a woman who had told him she had broken up with Preyapongpisan, but when Pike arrived it did not appear that had occurred and the two men developed an antagonistic relationship.  Both men were age 20 at the time of the incident.  The settlement conference include the family of the victim.

Boys Basketball Sandy 64, The Dalles 59:  The Riverhawks lose for the first time in three games this season.  Dakota Murr scored 27 for The Dalles while Josh Nisbet added 13.  Kaleb Hunter scored 18 for Sandy.