There will be intermittent lane closures in the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge toll plaza between the hours of 9:00 p.m and 6:00 a.m. each night beginning Sunday through next Friday.  Roofing crews will be replacing the siding on the structure.  Barricades will indicate lane closures.  BreezeBy customers will be able to use their BreezeBy transponders in the center lanes whenever the BreezeBy lanes are closed.  Minimal delays are expected, depending on traffic volume. 

Swimming

Hood River Valley’s girls topped Gresham 116-53 at the Hood River Aquatic Center, while Gresham won the boys’ portion of the meet 79-70.  Faith Ocheskey and Sarah Arpag won two events apiece for the HRV girls, while David Hecksel won twice for the Eagle boys.

Hood River County Commissioners have asked administrator Jeff Hecksel and Sheriff Matt English to continue to work on financial numbers for a potential public safety tax measure to send to voters in 2020.  Commissioners held a worksession on the subject this week.  The County is seeking to be able to address four public safety areas:  patrol, investigations, emergency management, and prosecutions, identified in a recent Internet survey as most important.  But Hecksel says they are trying to do that within a tax rate of 67 to 89 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value, and that has been difficult.  The Commission holds another worksession on Tuesday at 3 p.m. at the County Administration Building.

Oregon State University Extension in Hood River and Wasco counties is looking to offer extension’s Land Stewards program for property owners in the region.  OSU Extension’s Ann Harris says the program is fairly new and has been offered in southern Oregon over the last few years.  Harris says they are planning a hybrid version of what’s been offered in that part of the state with both online content and a couple of field-based courses.  She says the goal is to help property owners get their questions answered so they can use their land as they envision, from growing something to making it natural habitat.  Harris notes the program is still in development, but those who want information can call her at 541-386-3343.

The Next Door will be continuing its annual fundraising campaign through the end of January.  Justine Ziegler of the non-profit human services agency says they administer over 30 different programs in seven Mid-Columbia counties serving children and adults.  Ziegler says they have a goal of $120,000 for this year as they look to fill in the funding holes that grants don’t completely fill.  Those who would like to donate can do so at nextdoorinc.org.

Girls Basketball

Highland 43, Columbia 38:  Mya Aman scored 12 points for the Bruins.

The 2020 spending bill passed by Congress will include $2 million in funding for rural business development grants targeted for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.  The bill gives priority for the grants to “National Scenic Areas that have been devastated by wildfires,” a nod to the damage suffered in the Eagle Creek Fire two years ago.  The funding is intended to be used by the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District to create revolving loan funds to help support local Gorge businesses as they recover and grow following the fire.  The 2020 spending bill has been signed into law by the president.  A bipartisan group of Northwest senators and representatives worked on the getting the funding for some time.  Local officials had been seeking the funds, noting they were promised years ago upon the formation of the Scenic Area.

As a new year approaches, officials in The Dalles hope to determine whether or not to go to the Columbia River Gorge Commission to seek an expansion of the city’s urban growth boundary.  Mayor Rich Mays says to move forward, an inventory of lands that is currently underway needs to be wrapped up.  That survey will help the City determine if it needs to grow.  Mays notes the Gorge Commssion is moving toward having rules established for seeking a UGB expansion, so the City needs to be ready to make its case if the studies do show they need more land.

FISH Food Bank of Hood River County is busy sorting about three tons of food that was donated during drives by Hood River Valley High School and the Columbia Gorge Dance Academy.  Marianne Durkan of FISH says the drives have filled their Tucker Road warehouse, and the HRVHS food drive, along with the cans of food, brought in over $16,000 of cash donations that the organization will use to purchase more food.  FISH also has now opened a small pantry at Mid-Valley Elementary School in Odell.  Durkan says it is not very large, but the connection with the school will help them serve more people in need.

Klickitat County Commissioners have finalized their six-year transportation plan, and an improvement project for Courtney Road between White Salmon and Lyle is at the top of the list.  Commissioner Rex Johnston says they have a three-million dollar grant from the state to move ahead with what the County feels is a needed safety project.  Johnston says the big hurdle to clear is receiving the go-ahead from the Columbia River Gorge Commission.