The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a Saturday morning shooting in the southern part of the county that left a man in his forties dead.  According to the Sheriff’s Office, the man was shot by his 76-year-old father in Pine Grove, about 15 miles west of Maupin, during a domestic disturbance.  The Sheriff’s Office says the man is cooperating with investigators, and no arrest has been made at this time, adding he was taken to Mid-Columbia Medical Center for observation then transported to a care facility.  The Sheriff’s Office adds this was an isolated incident, and there is no danger to the public.  The investigation is on-going, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office at 541-506-2580.

The annual “Everyone Loves a Firefighter,” or Project ELFF, food drive takes place in The Dalles area this week.  ELFF commander Eric Pyles of Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue says they will begin Tuesday evening collecting non-perishable food donations in the eastern half of The Dalles.  Cash donations will also be taken that will go directly to the Salvation Army and St. Vincent dePaul to augment their food banks.  Project ELFF volunteers will be collecting in The Dalles east of Union Street on Tuesday, then Wednesday night they will be on the west side of The Dalles, and Thursday in the Dallesport-Murdock area.  Collections will take place all three nights from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

A strong October has helped Hood River’s tourism industry catch up after a difficult September due to the Eagle Creek Fire.  Hood River County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mike Glover says the latest lodging report for the month of October showed an offset of the negative effects from the Eagle Creek Fire says lodging revenue put the industry back on a year-to-date increase.  Glover says anecdotal reports from the retail sector show those businesses took a hit in September, but bounced back in October.  He also reports the holiday season is off to a strong start, noting an estimated four-thousand people attended Friday night’s parade and tree-lighting event.

The Dalles area orchardist Mike Omeg has been named the 2017 Good Fruit Grower magazine Grower of the Year.  In announcing the selection, the magazine cited Omeg as representing “all the values of a great grower, a passion for quality fruit, a relentless search for innovation and an extraordinary commitment to service to others.”  Omeg is the fifth generation general manager of Omeg Family Orchards.  He is the third winner of the award from The Dalles area…joining the Bailey family in 2003 and John Carter in 2010.

Rolling slowdowns and delays on Interstate 84 west of Hood River are scheduled in both directions around noon Thursday for the sixth in a rock blasting series necessary to build the latest segment of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail.  The Oregon Department of Transportation indicates the blast, one of the smallest of the series, will take place around noon near milepost 53.  The rolling slowdowns will delay traffic in both directions but the delays are expected to be shorter than for previous blasts.  The schedule may change due to unforeseen conditions.  Further blasts may not be necessary to complete the project.

North Wasco County School District 21 has reached a tentative labor contract agreement with its education support professionals.  D-21 Chief Financial Officer Randy Anderson says both the D-21 board and the union still must ratify the deal.  Anderson expects the D-21 board will ratify the contract at their next meeting on December 14.  He adds discussions to reach a contract agreement with the district’s teachers are continuing.

Boys Basketball Redmond 66, Hood River Valley 63 Lyle-Wishram 68, Columbia 49 Lyle-Wishram 56, Dufur 47 Nixyaawii 48, Dufur 35 Hudson’s Bay 79, Stevenson 60 Sherman 70, Stanfield 41 Sherman 83, Grant Union 52: Sherman wins its tournament Prairie City 63, Trout Lake 58 North Lake 51, South Wasco 26 Trout Lake 56, South Wasco 21: Trout Lake third in South Wasco tourney Horizon Christian 56, Damascus Christian 41 Trinity Lutheran 55, Horizon Christian 42:  Horizon second in its Hawk Invitational Joseph 56, Klickitat-Glenwood 40 Goldendale 81, Mabton 46   Girls Basketball The Dalles 53, Sandy 37 Hood River Valley 62, LaGrande 56 Madras 59, Hood River Valley 30:  HRV second in Madras Tournament Columbia 47, Lyle-Wishram 41 Dufur 49, Lyle-Wishram 16 Nixyaawii 68, Dufur 25 Hudson’s Bay 49, Stevenson 48 Sherman 39, Stanfield 35 Grant Union 90, Sherman 15:  Sherman second in its tournament South Wasco 48, North Lake 23 South Wasco 50, Prairie City 24:  South Wasco wins its tournament Prairie City 50, Trout Lake 30 North Lake 46, Trout Lake 34 Triad 52, Horizon Christian 38 Damascus Christian 48, Horizon Christian 30 Joseph 50, Klickitat-Glenwood 26 Mabton 74, Goldendale 30   Wrestling Hood River Valley grabbed four first place finishes at the Mt. Edgecumbe Invitational in Sitka, Alaska.  Ryan Zeller and Chad Muenzer tied for first at 132 pounds, Jason Shaner won the 138 pound division, and Adrian Ramirez was first at 285.  Gracie McCafferty was second in the girls’ 106 pound division.

A holiday sightseeing train operated by the Mount Hood Railroad had a minor derailment Friday evening.  According to the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office the train, which was carrying 214 passengers, had four cars come off the tracks north of Pine Grove, approximately three miles outside of Hood River, at 5:15 p.m.  There were no reported injuries, and the rail cars are upright.  Emergency crews assisted Mount Hood Railroad personnel. All passengers were helped off the train and transportation arranged to get them back to Hood River.

The Eagle Creek Fire was updated to 100 percent containment today following an official review.  Current incident commander Chris Harper says the change reflects a determination that the fire is not expected to grow beyond its perimeter, and is not the same as officially declaring the fire “out.”  He noted timber and other flammable natural materials may still be smoldering within the fire perimeter.  An incident commander with the U.S. Forest Service is still assigned to the fire and will continue to evaluate the situation.  The Forest Service’s Eagle Creek Fire closure, which includes numerous recreation sites in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and Mt. Hood National Forest, remains unchanged except for Multnomah Falls Lodge and front plaza, which opened Wednesday.  

The U.S. Senate unanimously has passed legislation sponsored by all four Oregon and Washington senators to enable the Bureau of Indian Affairs to make safety and sanitation improvements at tribal treaty fishing access sites along the Columbia River.  The Columbia River In-Lieu and Treaty Fishing Access Sites Improvement Act calls on the BIA to conduct a much-needed assessment of current safety and sanitation conditions at the sites in coordination with Columbia River Treaty Tribes.  It also authorizes the Bureau to work on improving conditions in several areas including structural improvements to restrooms, washrooms, and other buildings, safety improvements through wells and infrastructure to address fire concerns, electrical infrastructure to ensure safe hookups, and basic sewer and septic infrastructure.  The bill now goes to the House.