Hood River native Minoru Yasui has been named by President Barack Obama to posthumously receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.  The White House made the announcement Monday.  Yasui, born in Hood River in 1916…was the first to intentionally defy a military curfew imposed upon Japanese-Americans in 1942. He was sent to prison, including nine months in solitary confinement in the Multnomah County Jail, and fought his case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which upheld his conviction.  Yasui spent the rest of his life appealing his wartime conviction, until his death in 1986, the year his conviction was overturned by a federal court.  Yasui was the first Japanese-American graduate of the University of Oregon School of Law.  Oregon Congressman Greg Walden nominated Yasui for the award earlier this year, and said in a statement today that “For decades, Minoru Yasui fought tirelessly to defend and expand basic rights for all Americans. Though he faced discrimination and hatred during World War II, his belief in America never wavered.”  There are 17 Medal of Freedom recipients this year, with the award ceremony scheduled for November 24.

Hood River City Councilors held their annual goal-setting session over the weekend, and once again working on creating more opportunities for attainable housing remains at the top of the list.  City Manager Steve Wheeler says some new goals were added, including plans to discuss whether the City is generating enough revenue to appropriately fund its operations.  Also among newer goals discussed, whether the City should take on more of a leadership role in regards to parks, and putting more emphasis on the use of clean energy.  Dealing with planning department funding and development of a greener stormwater system remain among the Council goals. Monday night, the City Council will continue its discussion on what kind of direction to give staff and the planning commission as they develop new regulations on short-term rentals.  The meeting starts at 6 p.m. in Hood River City Hall.

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its campaign to get local residents to shop at home during the 2015 holiday season.  Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson says spending at local retailers is an investment that pays off.  Among the efforts being undertaken by the Chamber during the holiday season are the Shop Local and Win campaign in which consumers turn in their receipts from local businesses for a chance to win prizes, and Small Business Saturday on November 28 during which residents are encouraged to patronize small businesses.

The Port of Hood River Commission will hold its semi-annual planning session on Tuesday.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says long-term issues and policy matters will be emphasized, including the Port’s ten-year financial model.  The commission will also discuss planning for Lot 1 along the Nichols Basin, development of the recently purchased Hanel Mill property, and issues for the Port and the Hood River community over the next 20 years.  The meeting begins at noon Tuesday in the Port’s Marina Center boardroom.

Oregon Class 5-A Boys Soccer Championship Hood River Valley 2, Wilsonville 0:  Hood River Valley scored a goal in each half to defeat Wilsonville 2-0 and win its second straight Oregon Class 5A High School Boys’ Soccer Championship at Hillsboro Stadium.  Noe Magana opened the scoring in the game’s third minute off a through pass from Andres Baeza.  Baeza scored the second Eagle goal in the second half in the 47th minute with a 15 yard shot from the top of the penalty box.  Eagle goalkeeper Marco Cuevas had six saves, including a key stop when the Wildcats’ Pieter Top broke in alone, but Cuevas came out to smother the opportunity.  HRV finishes the season 15-0-3, and is now unbeaten in 36 consecutive games.   Oregon Class 1-A Football Quarterfinal Dufur 74, Yoncalla 72:  The Rangers came back from a 14-point deficit in the final 88 seconds to win.  Dufur quarterback Bailey Keever scored on a two-yard run and added a two-point conversion to bring the Rangers within six points, then Dufur recovered the on-side kick.  The Rangers drove down the field with Keever tying the game with a one-yard run, then adding the two-point conversion for the win.  Dufur meets Perrydale in the semi-finals on Saturday at noon at Hillsboro Stadium.   Washington Class 1-B Volleyball Tournament Lyle-Wishram won one out of three matches.  The Cougars fell in the first round to Mt. Vernon Christian 25-16, 25-17, 26-24, but came back with a consolation round win over Evergreen Lutheran 25-19, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21.  Quilcene ended the tourney for Lyle-Wishram by topping the Cougars 20-25, 25-13, 25-21, 25-11.   Oregon Class 5-A Water Polo Tournament Hood River Valley finished third in the girls’ tournament and fourth in the boys’ tourney.  The Eagle girls lost to Summit 11-6 in the semi-final but defeated Ashland 11-2 for third place.  HRV’s boys fell 10-9 in overtime to Summit in the semi-final, and then were trimmed by Ashland 8-6 in the third place game.

Hood River Valley scored a goal in each half to defeat Wilsonville 2-0 and win its second straight Oregon Class 5A High School Boys’ Soccer Championship at Hillsboro Stadium.  Noe Magana opened the scoring in the game’s third minute off a through pass from Andres Baeza.  Baeza scored the second Eagle goal in the second half in the 47th minute with a 15 yard shot from the top of the penalty box.  Eagle goalkeeper Marco Cuevas had six saves, including a key stop when the Wildcats’ Pieter Top broke in alone, but Cuevas came out to smother the opportunity.  HRV finishes the season 15-0-3, and is now unbeaten in 36 consecutive games.

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce is looking for more entries for the annual Starlight Parade, coming up in two weeks.  Deadline for applications to take part in the parade the evening after Thanksgiving is next Friday at 5 p.m.  To sign-up, go on-line to thedalleschamber.com or stop by the Chamber office at 404 West 2nd Street.  This year’s parade them is “Ropin’ In The Holidays.”  It begins at 6 p.m. on November 27, and will end at The Dalles Chamber office for the annual tree lighting ceremony.

For the first time in five years, there will be a community Thanksgiving dinner in Hood River.  FISH Food Bank, Asbury Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Riverside Community Church, and a number of different businesses and volunteers are teaming up to put the event on.  Debby Chenoweth says the dinner used to be held at the Soul Café, and many wanted to see it come back.  It became possible with the construction of new kitchens at Riverside Communty Church and FISH Food Bank.  Those who would like to contribute to the dinner can go to the GoFundMe website, or go to Riverside Community Church on 317 State Street in Hood River.  The dinner will take place on Thanksgiving Day from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Riverside Community Church.  If you know of anyone who needs a home-delivered meal, or you would like to volunteer to help, call 541-399-2384.

Wasco County Commissioners might be nearing an end of asking questions in regard to whether to put a moratorium on legal marijuana sales and production in unincorporated areas of the county before voters.  The County held public forums on the subject a couple of months ago, and have been asking its staff to answer questions surrounding all of the aspects of legalized marijuana.  Commissioner Scott Hege says he would like to focus the effort on time, place, and manner ordinances.  Hege adds a number of other counties have looked at those kind of issues, and Wasco County can use the information those governments have gathered for guidance.  Hege hopes they can get something in place by the end of the year.

There is still an opportunity for those who would like to donate and decorate Christmas trees for auction in the Mid-Columbia Health Foundation’s annual Festival of Trees to do so.  The auction takes place Friday, December 4 at The Dalles Civic Auditorium, with decoration day on Wednesday, December 2.  The Foundation’s Anne Copper says they will continue to take entries through Friday (November 13).  Tickets for the auction on December 4 are ten dollars, and available by calling the Foundation at 541-296-7275.  Proceeds benefit the Foundation’s Breast Health for Strong Families program and the Celilo Cancer Center.