Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation this week began onsite work toward developing a lot the City of Hood River rezoned this past spring for an affordable housing project.  Work by geotechnical engineers and surveyors will keep the Morrison Park property on 20th and Wasco closed through Wednesday.  The City Council approved the rezoning of the property from open space/public facility to high density residential to partner the housing corporation and Mid-Columbia Housing Authority on the project.  Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation executive director Joel Madsen says the work this week will provide information on what is possible on the site, adding they would like to preserve open space and natural features, create multi-modal connectivity to and from the site, and develop affordable homes.

Boys Soccer Horizon Christian 8, Central Christian 0   Volleyball Zillah def. Goldendale 25-18, 23-25, 25-23, 25-22  

The Community Action Team of The Dalles made its biannual trip to Washington, D.C. last month.  The group made up of representatives from various governmental agencies makes the journey to keep local projects and needs on the radar for federal assistance.  Part of the goal of this trip was to emphasize getting two million dollars earmarked for economic development when the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area when it was established in 1986 to the states.  Port of The Dalles Executive Director Andrea Klaas says impacts of the Eagle Creek Fire might be helping move those funds out.  But a challenge in getting the funds is waiting for high-level administration positions to be filled so agencies can move ahead with their plans.

Oregon State Park camping rates will go up by two dollars for some types of campsites effective at the start of November.  The Oregon Legislature approved the increase as part of the 2017-19 Oregon Parks and Recreation Department budget, and the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission approved the rate increase at its September 2017 meeting.  The rate for a typical full hookup RV site at the state’s most popular campgrounds will rise to $30 per night, and basic yurts will go from $40 to $42.  Rates will also rise by the same $2 amount for deluxe yurts, basic and deluxe cabins, electric sites, and hiker-biker camping areas.  Tent camping rates, currently $17-$19 per night, will not change.

Football Redmond 30, Hood River Valley 20 Rainier 43, The Dalles 0 Columbia 48, Seton Catholic 7 LaCenter 64, Stevenson 32 Dufur 54, Sherman 22 Perrydale 64 South Wasco 6 Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 50, White Swan 22 LaSalle (Yakima) 27, Goldendale 0   Cross Country Hood River Valley finished first and The Dalles fourth in the girls’ team standings of the Champoeg Invitational.  HRV’s Josephine Dickinson won the race, with Frances Dickinson taking fourth.  Hannah Ziegenhagen was eighth for The Dalles.  In the boys’ run, HRV was second to Franklin and The Dalles was third.  Braxton Wilson was fourth for HRV, and Rey Aviluz 11^th for The Dalles.   Boys Soccer Hood River Valley 2, Franklin 2:  The Quakers converted on a late penalty kick to tie the Eagles.  Saul Chavarria and Westley Carter scored for HRV. Prescott at Trout Lake, 2:30 p.m.   Girls Soccer Hood River Valley 1, Franklin 1:  Mira Olson scored the Eagles goal on an assist from Claire Davies, but the Quakers got the equalizer in the second half.   Volleyball Sherman def. Condon-Wheeler 25-7, 25-17, 25-21

Volleyball Ridgeview def. Hood River Valley 25-17, 25-19, 25-11 Columbia def. King’s Way Christian 25-17, 25-12, 17-25, 25-19 South Wasco def. Sherman 25-14, 25-18, 23-25, 25-14 Goldendale def. Kittitas 25-19, 25-12, 23-25, 25-22   Boys Soccer Mac-Hi 2, The Dalles 1   Girls Soccer Stevenson 3, Seton Catholic 1   Cross Country The Goldendale boys were third and the girls fourth in a five-team SCAC meet at Zillah.  Dillon Rising won the boys race for the Timberwolves, while Ellie Rising was second in the girls race.

Lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry in Hood River County will enter a modified burn ban on Saturday.  The modification to the current burn ban allows for burn barrels and small debris pile burning to take place between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m.  All fires must be fully extinguished by 11 a.m.  As always, any burning requires a current burn permit.  Grounds protected by Oregon Department of Forestry in Wasco County continue to be in a strict burn ban.  This means there is no burning allowed in burn barrels nor debris piles until the ban is fully lifted.  Cooperating fire agencies in Wasco County are monitoring the weather and fuel moistures closely to ensure the burn ban is lifted when conditions will safely allow it.

The Dalles Main Street program received the award for “best retail event” at Oregon Main Street’s 2017 Excellence in Downtown Revitalization awards this week.  The Dalles Main Street created a “shop downtown promotion” as a way to generate foot traffic, in conjunction with The Dalles Civic Auditorium’s BeerFest.  Participants were encouraged to spend ten dollars at a downtown business the day before and the day of the BeerFest to have their admission fee to the BeerFest waived.  The Dalles Main Street interviewed attendees at the BeerFest admission booth and concluded that a total of 84 participants visited 33 unique businesses in the downtown and spent a total of $6,340.

Hood River County Commissioners have directed county staff to continue investigating putting a limited scope sales tax before voters next year.  Commissioners have been concerned about the ability to maintain services with an ever-tightening budget picture impacted by reduced county timber sale revenues over the last decade and Measure 5 and 50 limitations on the ability to increase property taxes.  Commissioners discussed exempting groceries, fuel, and prescription medicine with an early proposed rate of two percent, though that could change as more research is done.  County Administrator Jeff Hecksel says part of the intent of a limited scope sales tax would be to have visitors to the area contribute to county coffers.  He adds over the next 90 days there will be a market survey done on whether there would be support such a tax, at what level, and the value placed on various county services.  Commissioners have also considered going out for a public safety district, but expressed concern with adding to the current property tax burden.

The Port of Hood River Commission will hold two public hearings as it decides whether or not to raise tolls on the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge.  Hearings on the proposed increase of cash tolls for passenger cars from $1 to $2, and tolls for those with Breeze-By accounts from 80 cents to $1, will take place on October 17 and November 7.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says while the Port is focused on replacing the bridge, they have to be realistic and plan for another 30 years of use from the current bridge.  A toll increase at the beginning of 2018 was assumed in the Port’s budget for the current fiscal year.  If a toll increase is eventually approved, the current timeline has it taking effect on February 1.