The passage of Washington Initiative 976 to limit the cost of car tabs may postpone construction of the Highway 14 underpass at Bingen Point, but it will still happen.  Bingen Mayor Betty Barnes says that’s the word she has received from state transportation officials.  She notes the majority of the property acquisition for the project has already happened, and agencies involved in the project will continue regular meetings.  Barnes adds given some of the issues the project still faces, including working with Burlington Northern Railroad, the potential delay may not have much of an impact.

PacifiCorp has reached a deal with the Yakama Nation to give the tribe a Right of First Offer for as much as 289 acres of land along the White Salmon River should the utility ever decide to sell.  The property is not currently for sale.  The land included in the agreement begins at the former dam site down river to where the White Salmon flows into the Columbia.  The still standing Condit Powerhouse is part of the property covered by the agreement.  The agreement does not include company-owned property further upriver where leased cabin sites and Northwestern Park are located.  PacifiCorp has owned the land since the early 1900s as part of the operation of the Condit Hydroelectric Project.  The company recently satisfied all federal requirements concerning the White Salmon River’s rehabilitation following the removal of the Condit Dam in 2012.    

 

 

The Port of Hood River will hold its fall planning session on Tuesday, and the focus will be on strategic planning for the next six years.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says this session will start the update of their current business plan to take it to 2026, the year which is targeted to begin construction of a new Interstate Bridge if everything on that front goes right. McElwee notes during that time, the Port will be looking to start becoming more efficient and looking at ways to increase revenue and decrease expenses.  To find revenue opportunities, the first step is to look at the Port’s real estate portfolio and continuing a process to recoup fixed costs in their current buildings while also looking at other development possibilities, ways to become more efficient as an agency, and look at partnerships with other agencies.  The strategic planning session will run from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday in the Port’s Marina Center conference room.

Mid-Columbia Housing Authority has been approved by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to receive $255,826 for Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties under the Mainstream Voucher Program for fiscal year 2019.  MCHA executive director Joel Madsen says the agency expects to be able to serve an additional 40 households in those three counties.  The vouchers will fund local initiatives to help non-elderly people with disabilities who are at risk of institutionalization or homelessness access affordable housing and other support services.  Last week it was announced that the voucher program will provide $188,345 for similar efforts in Skamania and Klickitat counties.

There is a bit more than a week left for those wishing to enter the Starlight Parade in The Dalles on November 29 to do so.  The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson says they will be taking applications until next Wednesday, November 27.  The theme is “Ruby Red Christmas.”  To register for the Starlight Parade, go to thedalleschamber.com.  The parade leaves from 6th and Webber on the 29th at 6 p.m., and ends at The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce for the annual tree lighting ceremony.

After two months construction work to revamp the connection between Washington Highway 14 and Wind River Road is in its final phase.  A new roundabout at the intersection of the two roads is now open to traffic.  It’s designed to provide improved connectivity between Highway 14 and Carson.  Final work is scheduled for January.  Currently, there are only two access routes between the community of Carson and the highway: Hot Springs Avenue and Wind River Road.  The Wind River flows right beside Hot Springs Avenue and could cause enough erosion to close that roadway.  If it occurred, Wind River Road would be the primary route for all traffic in and out of Carson.

Community members in Klickitat are invited to an open house on Tuesday to share suggestions for State Route 142, including improvements for people who walk, bike or drive in the area.   The open house is the first step of a larger study the Washington State Department of Transportation is conducting to gather feedback from community members to identify future safety improvements on SR 142.  The open house will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Klickitat Community Center.

               

Columbia Gorge Community College is looking for people in Hood River and Wasco counties interested in serving on the school’s budget committee.  Those appointed by the CGCC Board of Education would receive a three-year term as a Budget Committee member.  Those interested should send a letter including qualifications, telephone, and address to the Board of Education, Columbia Gorge Community College, 400 East Scenic Dr., The Dalles OR 97058.  Deadline for consideration is December 23^rd. 

Oregon Class 4A Football Quarterfinal

The Dalles 58, Tillamook 51:   Okean Green ran for five touchdowns to lift the Riverhawks into the semi-finals in a game that featured over 1,000 yards of total offense.  Green ran for 146 yards and four scores while accumulating 86 yards receiving with a touchdown.  Green’s final two touchdowns broke a 44-44 tie in the fourth quarter.  Cheesemakers’ quarterback Chad Werner ran for 294 yards and six touchdowns while throwing for 291 yards and a score.  Tillamook had 585 yards of offense, and The Dalles 501, with each team committing three turnovers.  The Dalles will meet LaGrande in the Class 4A semi-finals next Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Kennison Field in Hermiston.

 

Oregon Class 1B Football Quarterfinal

Crane 42, Dufur 6

 

Washington Class 1B Football Playoffs

Lyle-Wishram 46, Tekoa-Rosalia 0

 

Oregon Class 5A Water Polo Tournament

At Osborn Aquatic Center, Corvallis

Boys 

Semi-Final:  Hood River Valley 11, Ashland 7

Championship:  Hood River Valley 12, Parkrose 6

 

Girls 

Semi-Final:  Hood River Valley 18, Ashland 4

Championship:  Hood River Valley 9, West Albany 3

 

Washington Class 1A Volleyball Tournament

At Yakima Valley Sundome

First Round

Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) def. Goldendale 25-13, 25-18, 25-20

Consolation

Goldendale def. Bellevue Christian 25-13, 25-19, 27-25

Goldendale def. Castle Rock 23-25, 25-17, 25-20, 24-26, 15-11

King’s Way Christian def. Goldendale 25-20, 25-20, 25-21:  The Timberwolves finish eighth in the tournament.

 

Washington Class 1B Volleyball Tournament

At Yakima Valley Sundome

First Round

Mount Vernon Christian def. Klickitat-Glenwood 25-10, 25-18, 26-24

 

Consolation Round

Providence Classical Christian def. Klickitat-Glenwood 25-15, 25-19, 25-11

 

 

A fundraising campaign is underway for the commissioning of the USS Oregon…a new nuclear submarine expected to be commissioned next year at the U.S. Naval Submarine Base New London in Connecticut.  Larry Broschart is doing outreach with the USS Oregon Commissioning Committee and the Portland Navy League, and he says they are looking to raise $200,000 to provide for the commissioning ceremonies and promote a lasting relationship between the state and the submarine’s crew.  He says much of what they are raising money for are Navy traditions that are no longer funded.  More information on the fundraising effort is available at ussoregonssn793.org.  This will be the second USS Oregon in the Naval fleet.  A battleship with that name was launched in 1893 and served the Navy in three wars.