Oregon Congressmen Greg Walden and Earl Blumenauer testified before a House subcommittee in support of their bill to prod the Forest Service to complete the long-awaited Government Camp/Cooper Spur land exchange on Mount Hood.  In 2009 Congress mandated the exchange with broad-based community support move forward.  Walden says this bill clarifies Congressional intent that the Forest Service move forward expeditiously, addresses disagreements over a conservation easement, allows for a more transparent appraisal process, and clarifies other provisions.  Blumenauer added that it was “embarrassing that the Forest Service has yet to do what it should have already done.”  Forest Service officials claimed they needed more time to work through the exchange even with this bill, which Walden called unacceptable.  Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have companion legislation awaiting a floor vote.

The Hood River City Planning Commission will hold the first session of a hearing on the regulation of short-term rentals in residential zones on Monday evening.  The planning commission is dealing with potential changes to the municipal zoning code during this process.  A permit for short-term rentals will be developed by the City Council starting in April.  In a memo included in the packet for Monday’s meeting, Planning Commission Chair Nate DeVol indicated the panel would like to complete verbal testimony during the session, but would take written testimony through the next scheduled hearing date of March 21.  It is possible deliberations could begin on Monday, but that could wait until March 21.  Monday’s hearing begins at 5:30 p.m. in Hood River City Hall.

Girls Basketball Glencoe 60, The Dalles 37:  The Riverhawks will host Wilsonville in a Class 5-A play-in game on Tuesday.   Boys Basketball Glencoe 61, The Dalles 38

With The Dalles City Council deciding not to send a measure to voters to opt out of the retail, growing, and processing portions of Oregon’s legalization of recreational marijuana, attention will now turn to putting together an ordinance to regulate the time, manner, and place of those business.  Mayor Steve Lawrence says they can use the existing ordinance for medical marijuana dispensaries as a guide, expanding it for issues involving processing.  The Council also will be looking at sending a measure to the November ballot to place a City tax on the sale of marijuana.  That has to be finished by September.

Mid-Columbia Sinfonietta this weekend will be presenting a musical program called “America:  A Musical Portrait” at the Wy’east Middle School Performing Arts Center in Odell.  The centerpiece will be a concerto Sinfonietta conductor Mark Steighner wrote for the mountain dulcimer.  Mountain dulcimer virtuoso Stephen Seifert says the folk instrument is based on simple concepts, but is full of possibilities that the concerto brings out.  Also in the concert will include Aaron Copland’s Lincoln Portrait, featuring narration from the speeches and writings of Abraham Lincoln by Hood River Mayor Paul Blackburn on Friday and Oregon Congressman Greg Walden on Sunday, and music by Anton Dvorak and Mark O’Connor.  Performances will be Friday evening at 7 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m., with suggested donation $10.

Oregon Class 1-A Boys Basketball Tournament First Round South Wasco 59, Powder Valley 49:  The Redsides advance to a second round game at Siletz Valley on Saturday. Damascus Christian 55, Horizon Christian 38 Sherman had a bye in round one, and will host Joseph in the second round on Saturday.

Work toward opening a new shelter in The Dalles to youths who are homeless or in crisis in the region is continuing.  Youth Empowerment Shelter founder Gary Casady says they are waiting for the licensing process with the Oregon Department of Human Services to be completed, and he is unsure when that will be.  The shelter has leased a house at 514 East 9th in The Dalles to provide a place for ten to twelve youth to stay.  Casady says they will work with youth services agencies to provide various services to help those who stay at the shelter, including mediation with the family and medical and mental health treatment.  The shelter plans to serve Wasco, Hood River, Klickitat, Skamania, Sherman, and Gilliam counties.

The Hood River City Council approved a resolution in support of legislation to require comprehensive background checks for gun sales.  Mayor Paul Blackburn had brought the topic to Councilors earlier this month, and the resolution was formally approved by the panel this week.  Blackburn said even though such legislation falls under the jurisdiction of state and local officials, he felt the topic was worthy of the Council making its opinion known.  The resolution will be given to all members of the Oregon congressional delegation, the state legislature, and the Governor’s office.

The Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River is getting ready to embark on its tenth anniversary.  They are planning a celebration of the facility in downtown that was created through the work with various organizations.  Events Manager Kristyn Fix says the Center has evolved as the community has changed in the last decade, looking to be more inclusive of arts in a bigger sense.  A kickoff event for the Center’s poTENtial Program Series is planned for March 5.  It will lead into ten special events throughout the year that will feature a different genre of the arts.

Boys Basketball Hood River Valley 66, The Dalles 56:  HRV used a 17-4 third quarter run to jump out to a big lead, and went on to the win that gave them the third Columbia River Conference 5-A play-in bid.  Parker Kennedy scored 22 points and Tyrone Stintzi added 17 for the Eagles, who won the season series over the Riverhawks two games to one.  Dakota Murr paced the Riverhawks with 21 points.  Hood River Valley will visit Milwaukie, the number four team in the Northwest Oregon Conference, in a 5-A play-in game next Wednesday. Girls Basketball The Dalles 57, Hood River Valley 35:  The Riverhawks finish the regular season in second place in the Columbia River Conference.  They will host Wilsonville in a 5-A play-in game on Tuesday.