Oregon Second District Congressman Greg Walden is hoping this season’s large wildfires throughout the West will be the tipping point to bring concrete changes to federal forest management policy.  The Hood River Republican pointed out at one point in August the three worst fires in America were burning in his district.  Walden believes a better job has to be done to remove the fuels that are making wildfires more devastating than they have to be.  Walden says the House has passed forest management bills for three straight years that he believes would begin to deal with the problem, but the Senate has taken no action.

The Dalles and Wasco County Public Works crews are painting the center and side lines on main streets today and Thursday.  In recent years, paint with low “volatile organic chemicals” has been used in order to protect the environment, but it dries more slowly than paint used in previous years, so extra precautions are needed to give the paint time to dry.  Motorists are asked to watch for the crews and avoid driving on the wet paint.  The paint truck will be preceded and followed by warning vehicles, with signs calling attention to the wet paint.  The trucks will be spaced according to the drying time of the paint, which takes 4 minutes at best and longer under humid or cooler temperatures.  Attempting to pass or drive between the trucks will result in a messy striping job and paint damage to the motorist’s vehicle.

The Hood River County Health Department and the Salvation Army are partnering to provide backpacks filled with school supplies for families that need them.  The Health Department’s Trish Elliott says they have 200 backpacks available on a first come, first serve basis for families in need.  They are available by visiting the Hood River County Health Department office at 1109 June Street in Hood River.

Boys Soccer Hood River Valley 1, Hillsboro 1 Mac-Hi 2, The Dalles 1   Girls Soccer Hood River Valley 3, Reynolds 1:  Sindy Magana scored a pair of goals for the Eagles, while Halle Campos also scored. Columbia 15, Goldendale 0   Volleyball The Dalles def. Scappoose 25-23, 25-23, 26-24 Dufur def. Heppner 20-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-18 Heppner def. Sherman 25-10, 25-9, 25-10 Kiona-Benton def. Goldendale 25-17, 25-9, 28-30, 25-22

There is still plenty of time left in Hood River’s tourist season, but as the Labor Day weekend passes it appears to have been a very good season as the school year gets underway.  Hood River County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mike Glover says it has been extremely busy, and while they have had double digit percentage growth in transient room tax collections the last three years, this year is ahead of last year’s pace.  Glover notes Hood River tourism marketing targets the summer season to run through Harvest Festival weekend in mid-October.

Wasco County is looking to fill a number of different positions on various boards.  County Commissioner Steve Kramer says they are looking for a new alternate on the County Planning Commission.  The alternate doesn’t vote unless a sitting member is absent.  In addition, Kramer says the County is looking for a new representative to the Oregon Investment Board, and there is also a vacancy for a Wasco County board member on the Mid-Columbia Housing Authority board.  For application information on all three positions, go to the Wasco County website.

Union Street in The Dalles between East 3rd and East 4th has been closed to thru traffic due to a water main break that occurred Monday evening.  Public Works crews are on site facilitating repairs.  The street closure will remain in effect until repairs are completed.  Motorists are encouraged to use Court St. or Liberty St. as alternate routes travelling North and South.  Some customers may experience colored water or dirty-looking water due to the water main break.  City crews are flushing the system to correct the issue.  If you experience discolored water, let the water run for several minutes until clear.  If the water does not clear, contact the Public Works office at 541-296-5401, extension 2001.

Boys Soccer Hood River Valley 4, Franklin 0:  Antonio Bustos scored two goals as the defending Oregon Class 5-A champions opened their season on the road.  Noe Magana and Diego Ortiz added tallies for the Eagles. The Dalles 5, Redmond 0:  The Riverhawks scored four second half goals to blow the game open.   Girls Soccer Hood River Valley 3, St. Helens 2:  Sindy Magana scored a goal and added two assists to lead the Eagles to the win.  Halle Campos and Savanna Brentlinger also scored for HRV. The Dalles 6, Redmond 0:  The Riverhawks cruised to the win, evening their record at 1-1.   Football Dufur 58, Lowell 6   Volleyball Dufur def. Lowell 25-13, 25-12, 25-12

The Oregon State Police is investigating the possible kidnapping of a woman who was picked up at Jantzen Beach and was eventually released near Mosier.  According to the OSP, a woman in her mid-forties was waiting for a bus at Jantzen Beach to take her to Vancouver on Tuesday afternoon when a man driving a late 80’s or early 90’s model gray extended cab Ford pickup with a lifted suspension stopped and offered her a ride.  She got into the vehicle, and said he drove her eastbound on Interstate 84 and refused to let her out.  He eventually stopped alongside I-84 near Mosier and the woman was able to exit.  The man is described as a white male, about 50 years of age with blonde hair and blue eyes, with a heavier build, going by the name Travis.  The OSP is asking anyone that may have seen the Ford pickup parked along I-84 or that has information that could lead to the identity of the driver to contact Detective Lori Rosebraugh at 541-296-9646, extension 5350.

Classes are underway in North Wasco County School District 21.  School officials can’t make a determination on enrollment for a couple of weeks, with the district currently 20 to 30 students above projection, but in all likelihood there are some students who are enrolled who may not show up.  Superintendent Candy Armstrong says they have experienced a large number of late enrollees for kindergarten, and they already were at capacity at Colonel Wright Elementary and Dry Hollow is now as well.  Armstrong adds buildings are at capacity throughout the district, and a community-based facilities group is currently reviewing the data and working on a plan to bring to the D-21 board to address those issues on a long-term basis.