Fire damaged an apartment at the complex on 2402 West 10th Street in The Dalles on Sunday.  According to Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue Division Chief Dan Hammel, firefighters who responded found a fire in the exterior wall of the unit, which was contained to the immediate area within the wall, but the interior of the unit was damaged by water and firefighting operations to access the wall space.  The cause of the fire has been determined to be a result of an electrical failure within the wall wiring.  As a result of the damage to the electrical wiring, the power to all six units in the building had to be disconnected and resulted in the displacement of those occupants.  The American Red Cross was contacted to assist with the needs of those individuals.

The Port of Hood River says it is receiving interest in properties at the former Hanel Mill site the Port has been redeveloping.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says they are engaged in early discussions with a pair of businesses that are interested in acquiring space at the site.  On-site utilities are done, but McElwee notes water pressure for fire suppression is still being addressed.  McElwee says the businesses the Port is talking to are in the manufacturing sector.

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Citizens Award Banquet is coming up on Thursday evening at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center.  Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson says they will be honoring a number of area citizens.  Nominations were made by community members at the end of 2016.  Doors open for the banquet at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday evening at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center, with the event beginning at 6 p.m.  Tickets are available through Monday at The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce office.  Cost is $40, and reservations can be made by calling 541-296-2231.

Boys Basketball Hood River Valley 53, Columbia 27 Dufur 53, Horizon Christian 45 Dufur 67, Ione 37 Horizon Christian 49, Arlington 46 Sherman 93, Mitchell-Spray 44 Sherman 70, South Wasco 34 Condon-Wheeler 61, South Wasco 38 Sunnyside Christian 81, Trout Lake 29 Bickleton 55, Klickitat-Glenwood 41 Sunnyside Christian 77, Klickitat-Glenwood 35 Yakama Tribal 85, Lyle-Wishram 30 Granger 65, Goldendale 38 Goldendale 43, Highland 38   Girls Basketball Horizon Christian 59, Dufur 47 Arlington 47, Horizon Christian 35 Dufur 52, Ione 42 Sherman 56, Mitchell-Spray 41 South Wasco 26, Condon-Wheeler 23 South Wasco 41, Sherman 32 Sunnyside Christian 61, Trout Lake 6 Trout Lake 35, Lyle-Wishram 32 Sunnyside Christian 65, Klickitat-Glenwood 29 Granger 66, Goldendale 34   Wrestling Hood River Valley split eight dual matches at the Oregon Classic in Redmond.  Jason Shaner won all eight of his matches to lead the Eagles over the weekend.   Alpine Skiing   Josie Peterson was first and Erin Sutherland second to lead a group of six Hood River Valley racers in the top ten of the Mount Hood League girls’ slalom at Mt. Hood Meadows.  Petra Ervin of The Dalles was 19^th.   In the boys’ race, Colin Howe of Columbia was top area finisher in second place, while Hood River Valley’s Chris McElwee finished third and Mitchell Lamer fourth.  Martin Carter was the top finisher for The Dalles in eighth.   Nordic Skiing Hood River Valley finished third in the boys and girls standings in a Northern League race at Teacup.  HRV’s Daisy Dolan was eighth in the girls’ race, and Elkin Parker 12th in the boys’ event.  Summit won both team titles.

The National Weather Service says a wet and mild series of storms will move into the Northwest early next week, bringing heavy rains and heightening flood potential.  A hydrologic outlook today by the Weather Service office in Portland indicates snow levels will begin to rise on Monday night, reaching near 7,000 feet Tuesday morning and 8,000 feet Tuesday evening, and combined with the expected heavy precipitation that could bring in around five inches of rain will lead to rapid snowmelt.  The outlook says with above normal snow depths and the lack of a thawing cycle this season, the snowpack in the Cascades will likely will be able to absorb a lot of the rainfall, especially above 3,500 feet.  But it does add the amount of heavy rain will remain the most significant factor in flood potential for area waterways.  The Weather Service says details of the rainfall totals and expected flooding will be refined as the storms approach the Pacific Northwest.

The Hood River County School Board approved a resolution reaffirming their existing educational equity policy that requires immigration officials to have a warrant before going on to school property or accessing students.  Board Chair Mark Johnson says the resolution does not create any new policies, but the board wanted to publicly reaffirm what is already in place.  He said it reaffirms the board’s feelings on the “need to support all students regardless of point of origin or documentation status.”  School districts are required by federal law to provide all children within its boundaries equal access to a public education regardless of citizenship or immigration status, and cannot collect information about a student’s immigration status or that of the student’s family members.

Public Works officials are asking property owners to help clear storm water catch basin grates in front of their property to help prevent flooding and freezing hazards, with temperatures forecast to increase next week and significant melting expected.  If catch basins are not cleared of snow, ice, and other debris, water is prevented from draining from streets.  As the snow melts, water pools along streets and can cause localized flooding or re-freezing if the catch basins aren’t clear.  To clear a catch basin, remove snow and ice or any other debris after a storm to maintain the openings in the grate.  Do not attempt to remove the grid, only clear the debris on top of the grate.  Also, do not allow children to play on or around open streets during or after a storm, and ensure children know to stay at least 50 feet away from operating equipment.  Make sure children do not build snow forts or tunnels in the snow piled along roadways.  They can collapse without warning and children can be trapped or injured by the weight of the collapsing snow.

Hood River Rotary Club’s annual Ski Night at Mount Hood Meadows is set for Monday.  Funds raised from tickets sold for the event go toward Rotary Club projects, including local scholarships, civic requests, and their dictionary distribution project.  Michael Schock of the Rotary Club says you don’t necessarily have to a skier to enjoy Ski Night, with entertainment in the lodge from Joe Stoddard.  Hood River Rotary Ski Night runs from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday at Mount Hood Meadows.  Tickets are $15 online at skihood.com or $20 at the mountain.

North Wasco County School District 21’s Long Range Facilities Planning Committee held the first of five scheduled workshops this week, focusing on an assessment of existing building conditions and developing guiding principles.  In the assessment, D-21 Superintendent Candy Armstrong said the committee was told it would take 22 million dollars over the next five years to keep their facilities in the “poor” condition they are considered to be in, and 65 million to bring them up to a good level.  D-21 Chief Financial Officer Randy Anderson says those figures focus mainly on mechanical systems, and it drives the conversation in exploring choices of renovation or building new.  The committee meets again January 31, when they will be examining teaching and learning environments.

The snowfall has ceased for the time being in the region, but city and county road crews are continuing to deal with the record amounts of snow that has fallen in the area.  Hood River County Public Works Director Mikel Diwan says they were fortunate to be able to make at least one pass of every road in the County every day, and now the goal is to try to widen out the available driving area.  But where to put more snow is problem, as there aren’t many more places to push the snow into.  Diwan added crews have put in long hours to keep roads passable in the region.