The Oregon Department of Transportation says the rock blasting planned for Wednesday on Interstate 84 at milepost 53 has been postponed.  The blasting would have been the fifth in a series of as many as seven blasts necessary to build the latest segment of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail.  No date for resumption of the blasting has been set but it won’t take place until next week at the earliest.

A single vehicle accident involving a truck hauling a manufactured home blocked westbound lanes of Interstate 84 in Hood River for about 90 minutes Monday morning.  According the Oregon State Police, a preliminary investigation indicated the truck was exiting the freeway at exit 63 when for an unknown reason it veered to the left and entered the unpaved shoulder of the freeway, striking the exit 63 sign and two fog markers before coming to rest blocking the westbound lanes of travel.  The truck operator, 36-year-old Michael Cannon of Hermiston, was taken by ambulance to Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital for treatment of injuries.  The accident occurred just before 9:30 Monday morning.  Oregon Department of Transportation assisted at the scene by diverting traffic off the exit and back onto I 84 westbound.  The crash remains under investigation.

The Hood River County School District has added a coaching stipend for middle school boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball, and track for this school year.  Middle school coaching was cut from the district budget in 2010.  District Superintendent Dan Goldman says the opportunity to restore the stipends came about as the district has been able to restore other program elements lost during the recession.  He noted while volunteer coaches have stepped up to help fill those roles, it did create difficulties for students who wanted to take part.  Goldman praised the volunteers who have stepped up to provide coaching in the middle schools.  Middle school athletic coordinators are now recruiting paid coaches and volunteers to help develop student-athletes.

Dallesport Elementary School is being honored with a School of Distinction Award from the Center for Educational Effectiveness for sustained improvement in English language arts, math, and graduation rates over the last five years.  Dallesport Elementary, a school with 70% of its students living in poverty, experienced a 580% improvement, from the 5th percentile to 34th in ELA/math scores.  98 schools in Washington State have been honored by the Center for Educational Effectiveness and their partner organizations for continuous and substantive improvement.  School of Distinction honorees are selected using OSPI reported data from the data downloads section of the state report card.  A school must have data in at least three of five years to be considered–one of which must be 2017.  “Improvement” is defined as the slope of linear trend over the five years.

Ballots must be dropped off or postmarked by the end of Tuesday’s election in the state of Washington.  Drop boxes will be available until 8 p.m. Tuesday.  In Klickitat County ballots can be taken to the County Auditor’s office at the Courthouse or drop boxes at the corner of South Columbus and West Court in Goldendale, the White Salmon Pioneer Center, Dallesport Community Center, Roosevelt School, Lyle Lions Club, Wishram Park Place, and in Klickitat at Depot Park.  Locations in Skamania County include the Auditor’s Office and the north side entrance of the Courthouse in Stevenson, near North Bonneville City Hall, Carson Transit Station, Little Church of the Valley in Stabler, and the Underwood Community Center.  Tuesday’s vote in Washington is highlighted by votes on a large number of municipal offices.

North Wasco County School District 21’s new alternative school opened Monday on the Wahtonka campus.  Superintendent Candy Armstrong says this version combines online components with hands-on teaching for high school age students who need to make up credits to graduate.  Enrollment is starting with six students, with Armstrong adding the numbers will remain small with students identified within the district as not on track to graduate on time.         Armstrong noted D-21’s Wahtonka Community School that has been an alternative offering focused on hands-on project-based skills is moving toward becoming a charter school in the near future.

Wasco County’s code compliance office is establishing an Abatement and Recycling Assistance Program.  Kelly Howsley Glover of the Wasco County Planning Department says the program is being funded by a DEQ grant to assist property owners who need to do clean-up to alleviate or prevent a violation of County ordinances.  Anyone may apply, but preference is given to low income property owners and seniors.  To apply visit the Wasco County Planning Department website or call them at 541-506-2560.

A mid-year report indicates collection of organic material within the City of Hood River is up 56% in the first five months of the City’s new solid waste program.  The data shows 681 tons of food scraps and yard debris collected in the City from May 1 through September 30.   That total includes food scraps from restaurants, self-haul yard debris delivered to the transfer station, and organic waste picked up curbside.  A new three roll-cart system that separates three distinct waste streams…organic waste, garbage and recyclables…began May 1.  The organic matter goes to the company Dirt Hugger, which converts the material into compost.  

Oregon State 52^nd District Representative Mark Johnson formally steps away from the position today.  The Hood River Republican had announced last month he would leave the Legislature to serve as President and CEO of Oregon Business & Industries.  Johnson was a state representative for nearly seven years.  With Johnson’s resignation, Republican precinct committee persons living in House District 52 will vote to nominate three-to-five candidates to fill the vacancy.  County commissioners from Hood River, Clackamas and Multnomah Counties will then vote to select the next state representative for the district.  The vacancy must be filled within 30 days.

It was a good October for the tourism business in Hood River coming out of the Eagle Creek Fire.  Hood River County Chamber of Commerce executive director Michael Glover says as soon as Interstate 84 was reopened in both directions in late September, downtown Hood River was as busy as you would expect at this time of year.  Glover does add the fire still hurt the overall season results, with room hotel occupancy down ten to fifteen percent, and retailers taking a heavier hit.  Glover noted both the Hood River Hops Fest and the Harvest Festival once again drew large crowds in October, with Hops Fest attendance up about a thousand from 2016 and Harvest Fest also experiencing a bump.