The White Salmon City Council has sent a feasibility study for a new swimming pool on property across from Whitson Elementary School on to designers.  Mayor David Poucher says they are asking for a design that will include zero entry, which means the pool has an entry that gradually slopes into the water similar to a natural beach.  He adds the design will also include a therapy pool and a splash pad.  Poucher says the City plans to go to voters for a levy lid lift in February or March to pay for a portion of the project.  The City has about $600,000 in donations on hand, and is seeking a $750,000 grant from the state.

Wasco County Commissioners approved a change to an agreement with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to provide law enforcement services in the Lower Deschutes River area, changing it from a deputy year-round to one on a seasonal basis between April and September.  Commissioner Scott Hege says the contract has been in effect since 2014, but there has not been enough activity to justify a full-time deputy in that area.  Hege noted the County was able to fund the balance of the deputy’s position to keep it full-time and available for other needs.  Sheriff’s services will be provided in the Lower Deschutes area on an “on-call” basis in the off-season, with those activities billed directly to OPRD.

The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office says a Stevenson area resident missing for about a week has been found.  Sheriff Dave Brown said this morning that 47-year-old Matt L’Hommedieu was located Wednesday in Pendleton.  Brown indicated he was contacted by tribal police and it was determined that L’Hommedieu is fine.  He is no longer considered a missing person.  L’Hommedieu had been reported missing after he was last seen last Thursday night leaving his residence near mile post 2 on Loop Road.

North Wasco County School District 21 is now taking applications to fill the Zone 5 position on the district board.  The appointment will run through June 30, 2017, with the position on the special districts election ballot in May.  To qualify for this position applicants must live within the boundaries of Zone 5, which essentially is south of 7th Street in The Dalles from Trevitt to Madison.  Complete zone descriptions and applications may be found on the D-21 website, nwasco.k12.or.us, under School Board Members and Zone Descriptions and Maps.  For more information call 541-506-3420, extension 1002.

Port of Hood River Commissioners have given the go-ahead for preparing a formal application to the City for a preliminary subdivision plan of Lot 1 west of the Nichols Basin.  It’s the largest remaining development site on the Hood River waterfront.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says the plan is a key step toward preparing the lot for development.  It will locate rights of way and legal lots, creating the framework for placement of infrastructure.  McElwee expects the application process will take several months to go through.

Officials are urging people across the Northwest to refrain from having any campfires or setting off fireworks as hot, breezy weather poses a severe risk of wildfires.  Due to increasing fire danger, restrictions have been imposed on firewood cutting and other industrial activities on the eastern portions of the Mt. Hood National Forest.  Known as Industrial Fire Precaution Levels Units 1 and 4 to industrial operators, the restricted area covers all of Barlow and most of Hood River Ranger Districts, which have high fire danger levels.  For the average firewood cutter, the restrictions mean that they will only be allowed to operate power saws from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. in those areas.  A one-hour fire watch is required after shut down of power saws and other equipment within the affected area.  All power saws and motor bikes are also required to have an approved spark arrestor installed while operating on the national forest.  In Washington, Public Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark expanded a statewide fire ban to prohibit all outdoor burning, including campfires in fire pits and the use of charcoal briquettes, on state forests and parks protected by the Department of Natural Resources.  Goldmark says the greatest fire danger right now comes from carelessness.  The National Weather Service is issuing similar warnings, asking people not to burn anything outside, not to toss burning materials from vehicles and not to use fireworks.

The White Salmon Valley School District starts its school year on August 30, and there are a number of staff changes from previous years.  District Superintendent Jerry Lewis says they had a number of retirements, and all of the district’s schools will see new personnel.  Lewis says they are finishing up hiring new employees, but he says the shortage of teaching candidates was noticeable during the search process.  He noted normally they would have 15 to 20 applicants per certified position, but this year it only got as high as six to seven.  Factors in the low numbers of candidates include a smaller amount of students taking teaching programs in college, and the cost of housing in this region.

The Skamania County Fair opened Wednesday in Stevenson, and will run through Sunday.  Fair Board member Paul Pearce says admission remains free, thanks to the volunteers and sponsors who support the event.  There will be entertainment on the stage throughout the fair, including a talent show Thursday at 7 p.m.  Fireworks are planned both Friday and Saturday nights over Rock Creek Pond, with the fair’s Timber Carnival to take place Friday through Sunday.  Meanwhile, the Wasco County Fair gets underway Thursday and runs through Sunday in Tygh Valley.  Thursday will feature free admission at the fair.  There will also be ranch sorting in the horse arena at 5 p.m., while the 4-H Fashion Show is at 7 p.m.  The annual fair rodeo will take place at 7:30 Friday and Saturday evenings, with the demolition derby on Sunday.

The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing Stevenson area resident.  47-year-old Matt L’Hommedieu was last seen last Thursday night, August 11, at about 8 p.m. leaving his residence near mile post 2 on Loop road.  L’Hommedieu was heading east on foot and was believed to be carrying only a cell phone.  He is a white male adult, 5’10” tall and weighing approximately 165 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.  There is no clothing description available.  Anyone with any information regarding the whereabouts of Matt L’Hommedieu is asked to call the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office at (509) 427-9490 and leave a message at extension 2046.  Please call 911 if the information is a life safety issue.

The Hood River County School District Board and Superintendent Dan Goldman have set their goals for the 2016-17 school year, and many of them revolve around the recently passed bond measure that includes construction of a new May Street Elementary and a science and technology addition at Wy’east Middle School.  Goldman says the next year will be dominated by planning, with very few visible construction projects.  He noted many of the   Goldman adds one of the major steps the district is undertaking is applying to Standard and Poor’s to increase the district’s bond rating from A-plus to AA-minus, which would save the district millions of dollars in interest payments.  The process to select an architectural firm to handle design of the various construction projects.