As North Wasco County School District 21 officials consider whether to go out for a bond measure in the near future to develop new facilities and repair existing buildings, one important component will be to determine if there is community support for such a move.  A citizens’ task force told district officials last week they should go out for a bond measure to construct a new high school in November 2016 to take advantage of state matching funds.  Superintendent Candy Armstrong feels the district does have a better community profile than it did a few years ago, but they will have to gauge community readiness for a bond measure.  The D-21 board plans to discuss the report it received from the task force in January.

Hood River County Library District cardholder have a chance to come clean on any late fines they may be facing.  The district says it will forgive any late fines for district cardholders who visiting the Hood River, Cascade Locks, or Parkdale libraries between December 15 and December 19.  Library staff will forgive any fines associated with returning items late.   They’ll also give free replacement library cards, for those who have lost theirs.  Not eligible for forgiveness are charges for lost or damaged materials, copies and printouts, temporary and non-resident cards, or other charges not explicitly mentioned.  For more information, contact the Hood River County Library District at 541-386-2535.

Boys Basketball Central 55, Hood River Valley 47 Hood River Valley 68, Columbia 42 LaGrande 71, The Dalles 51 Washougal 46, Columbia 36 Stevenson 68, Lyle-Wishram 59 Columbia Christian 79, Trout Lake 23 River View 48, Goldendale 46 South Wasco 65, Klickitat 29 Stanfield 46, South Wasco 41 Triad 61, Klickitat 38 Horizon Christian 46, Jordan Valley 42 Horizon Christian 52, Triangle Lake 40 Damascus Christian 73, Dufur 51 Sherman 90, North Lake 42   Girls Basketball Putnam 38, The Dalles 35 LaGrande 51, The Dalles 34 Franklin 53, Hood River Valley 41 Washougal 61, Columbia 29 Lyle-Wishram 61, Stevenson 36 Trout Lake 31, Columbia Christian 17 Goldendale 44, River View 38 South Wasco 58, Klickitat 46 Stanfield 47, South Wasco 26 Jordan Valley 63, Horizon Christian 24 Horizon Christian 45, Mitchell-Spray 30 Damascus Christian 53, Dufur 21 North Lake 48, Sherman 28

When a school facilities task force gave its recommendations to North Wasco County School District 21 this week, it urged the D-21 board to plan to go out for a bond measure in November 2016.  The report from the group revolved around three concepts for construction of a new high school, and included other possibilities involving elementary schools and an early learning center.  Panel member Joan Silver feels there is a momentum in The Dalles community to make this happen, and passage of a bond measure in November would be eligible to receive eight million dollars in state matching funds that might not be there after 2016.  Superintendent Candy Armstrong indicated The D-21 board will be discussing the topic in January.

The latest state economic forecast released this week showed Oregon’s tax revenue remaining stable, but there are budget challenges looming for legislators in the next couple of years.  Republican 26th District Senator Chuck Thomsen sees two big problems in particular, both on the spending side.  They are paying Public Employee Retirement System obligations, and rising health care costs.  Thomsen said the federal economic forecast does provide some positive aspects.  But the state report warned a weakening in the stock market would impact capital gains revenues, and uncertainty with foreign trading partners could cause problems for export sector of Oregon’s economy.

The North Wasco County School District 21 board received ideas for a new high school from a community school facilities task force.  The group presented three main concepts for a new high school, one at the current Wahtonka campus, one on a hilltop site south of Columbia Gorge Community College, and a site on Highway 30 that would require a National Scenic Area plan amendment from the Columbia River Gorge Commission.  All three come with pros and cons, and D-21 Superintendent Candy Armstrong says the district board will look for more community input and will discuss the subject in January.  The task force acknowledged other facility needs for D-21, but in its presentation said it felt the location of a new high school will subsequently reveal opportunities for resolving elementary school problems, and also presented concepts for an early learning center.  The group would like to see D-21 seek a bond measure in November 2016 to take advantage of eight million dollars in matching funds from the state.

New Mid-Columbia Council of Governments Executive Director Bob Francis is getting settled in to the job.  Francis oversees an organization that provides a number of different services to five counties and 11 cities.  He says one of his main tasks in coming months is to write a number of grant requests, noting the future of federal funding streams are a concern, particularly in workforce development.  Francis says the MCCOG board will hold a strategic planning and goal setting session early next year.

Mid-Columbia Health Foundation’s annual Festival of Trees will take place Friday evening in The Dalles Civic Auditorium.  The annual auction of specially decorated Christmas trees will benefit the Breast Health for Strong Families program and the Celilo Cancer Center Fund.  The foundation’s Anne Copper says various organizations design and decorate each tree.  Tickets are $10 for the 21 and over event, and can be purchased by calling the foundation at 541-296-7275.  Doors open at 6 p.m. Friday, with the auction beginning at 7 p.m.  On Saturday, the trees will be on display at the Civic for Community Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Hood River Holiday Kick-Off Party will take place Friday evening in downtown Hood River.  The Holiday Happy Hour will start the event at 4 p.m., with the streets being closed at 5 p.m.  The Holiday Parade is at 6 p.m., and those who wish to take part should check-in at the start of the parade near Oak and 7th between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.  After the parade, the Community Tree Lighting will take place at Overlook Memorial Park.

A 24-year-old man from The Dalles was taken into custody on Wednesday after a standoff that closed Highway 97 six miles south of Biggs Junction for about four hours.  According to the Oregon State Police, a trooper checked on a van parked along the highway and was advised it had been reported as stolen late last week.  The occupant of the van, Dean Allen Bromley, initially complied with officers’ orders to exit the van, but then jumped backed in and would not come out.  An OSP SWAT team was brought in with an armored vehicle that allowed them safe access to the van and Bromley, and deployed chemicals agents to get him to exit the vehicle.  Bromley was lodged at the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility in The Dalles on one count of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.