A Washington state 14th District legislator is firing back at Governor Jay Inslee over the Senate’s decision not to confirm the appointment of Lynn Peterson as head of the state Department of Transportation.  Inslee, a Democrat, called the Senate vote an “election year stunt.”  But Republican Representative Norm Johnson said in combination with the swirling controversy over a Corrections Department computer program problem resulting in the early release of some prisoners, the Governor needs to “clean his own house, and we shouldn’t have to clean it for him.”  Inslee said Monday current Deputy Secretary Roger Millar is in charge of the transportation department, and there is no timeline for making a new appointment.

Hood River County Commission Chair Ron Rivers says he wants to make another effort to complete an unincorporated communities plan for Odell, and wants answers from the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development.  Rivers says he has invited DLCD representatives to have a face-to-face conversation about what he feels are hurdles from the state that prevent the County from being able to complete a plan.  Administrator David Meriwether says the issue has been how large an unincorporated area can there be in Odell, with the County wanting a larger area than the state.  Both Rivers and Meriwether say that would be to accommodate future housing and growth needs.  Last week, the County Commission approved sending a letter to the Oregon Legislature in support of removing a ban on inclusionary zoning in the state.

There will be a planned water outage in an area in the northwest part of White Salmon on Tuesday to facilitate work on the City’s water mainline on Northwest Spring Street.  The outage will occur from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, and will affect Northwest Spring, Northwest Montana Drive, Northwest Cherry Hill Road, Northwest Moore Lane, Northwest Cherry Street, Northwest Michigan Street, Northwest Manly Street, Northwest Achor Street, and Schoolview Lane.  Be prepared to have bottled water for drinking and stored water for toilet flushing, and the City recommends turning the power off to water heaters during the outage.  When the water supply is restored, there may be air or discolored water in faucets, so turn the cold side of the faucet on until the water runs clear.  Those with questions can call 509-493-1133, ext. 500.

A pair of public meetings regarding infrastructure projects in The Dalles will take place this week.  On Tuesday there will be a public information meeting regarding the Thompson Street storm project and the impact it will have on traffic patterns in the area, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in The Dalles City Hall.  Wednesday, a public workshop on an update to the City’s transportation system plan will be held at 6:30 p.m., also in The Dalles City Hall.  The TSP serves as a framework to plan improvements to all modes of transportation in The Dalles.

Boys Basketball Pendleton 96, Hood River Valley 54 The Dalles 59, Hermiston 53 Dufur 57, Ione 23 Sherman 60, South Wasco 42 Horizon Christian 60, Arlington 52 Bickleton 50, Lyle-Wishram 34 Sunnyside Christian 78, Klickitat-Glenwood 22 Yakama Tribal 57, Trout Lake 37 Granger 64, Goldendale 35   Girls Basketball Pendleton 66, Hood River Valley 45 Hermiston 79, The Dalles 49 Stevenson 48, Castle Rock 37 Ione 45, Dufur 26 South Wasco 43, Sherman 28 Arlington 43, Horizon Christian 29 Lyle-Wishram 70, Bickleton 30 Sunnyside Christian 59, Klickitat-Glenwood 22 Yakama Tribal 72, Trout Lake 22 Granger 64, Goldendale 35   Saturday Schedule Boys Basketball Seton Catholic 80, Columbia 56 Dufur 53, Horizon Christian 40 South Wasco 72, Condon-Wheeler 46 Sherman 82, Mitchell-Spray 42   Girls Basketball Columbia 46, Seton Catholic 30 Horizon Christian 28,  Dufur 20 Condon-Wheeler 53, South Wasco 36 Mitchell-Spray 41, Sherman 39   Wrestling Hood River Valley was third and The Dalles eleventh at the Robert Paul Invitational in Sandy.  Noah Wachsmuth and Jason Shaner won their weight classes for HRV, which also grabbed second place finishes from Ryan Zeller and Trystan Fisher.   Cameron Read won the 220 pound division as Goldendale finished fourth at the SCAC West Tournament in Zillah.  Read pinned Jose Mendoza of Granger at the 5:18 mark of the final.  The Timberwolves earned seven entries in the Region III tournament next weekend at Highland.   Columbia finished third and Stevenson fourth at the Trico League wrestling championships in Stevenson.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a $10.5 million dollar contract to a Vancouver company to increase navigation lock reliability and safety at The Dalles Lock and Dam.  Northbank Civil and Marine will fabricate and install a new upstream navigation lock gate and new top hinges and anchor points on the downstream gate.  The contract also contains options for control systems upgrades and additional work on the downstream gate.  The project will reduce the risk of gate failure at the lock, which annually supports transit of nine million tons of cargo worth three billion dollars, including about 40 percent of the nation’s wheat.  The upstream gate and control systems are original equipment from when the dam was built in 1957.  A 14-week closure of those locks is scheduled to start December 12.

The Columbia Gorge Health Council will be making more than one million dollars in one-time investments in health promotion and local healthcare services in Hood River and Wasco Counties in the first half of this year.  The Columbia Gorge Coordinated Care Organization earned 100-percent return on the Oregon Health Authority’s 2013 and 2014 performance metrics, which led to the health council receiving the money to benefit local healthcare providers and patients.  About sixty percent of the funds will be directed towards mental health providers who serve the region’s Oregon Health Plan members and towards primary care clinics to advance Oregon’s Patient-Centered Primary Care Home strategy.  The Hood River County Health Department and North Central Public Health District will each receive a one-time payment of $90,000, and funds will be invested in management of chronic pain and opiate prescribing and an integrated approach to tobacco use prevention and cessation for all ages.

Oregon 26th District State Senator Chuck Thomsen says he’s worried about all of the policy issues that are trying to be addressed during what is supposed to be a short five-week session of the Legislature.  The Hood River Republican notes the time to study and get public input of many of the proposals, ranging from the minimum wage to clean energy standards, just isn’t available like there is during the longer odd-year sessions.  Thomsen noted Senate President Peter Courtney told him during a meeting before the session his main reason to want to get a minimum wage compromise addressed now is because polling showed a minimum wage increase going to the November ballot is likely to pass.

North Central Public Health District director Teri Thalhofer has been appointed by Governor Kate Brown to the Oregon Public Health Advisory Board.  Thalhofer will represent ten counties on the board, including Sherman County.  The board serves as an advisor on policy matters to the Oregon Health Authority, reviews statewide public health issues, and participates in public health policy development.

Hood River County Commission Chair Ron Rivers says he has filed to run for re-election. Rivers will be seeking a sixth term in the position.  Rivers says he enjoys serving as Commission Chair, and wants to continue to work for the community.  Rivers wants to help finish work on land use regulation updates that has been on-going the last few years, and find ways to diversify County revenues to help provide services, particularly from the region’s growing tourism industry.