Wasco County Commissioner Rod Runyon says road issues played a large part in an Association of Oregon Counties Legislative Committee meeting in preparation for the upcoming legislative session in Salem.  Runyon says there is a belief a state gas tax increase of around four cents a gallon is coming, but an Oregon Association of Surveyors and Engineers proposal of how to divide up that increase was of interest in particular to smaller counties.  It would divide one-third of it equally among all counties regardless of size, one-third based on motor vehicle registrations, and the rest based on mileage.  Runyon says under that plan with a four-cent gas tax increase, Wasco County could realize $500,000 to $600,000 in additional revenue.  The current gas tax is divided by motor vehicle registration numbers, and that won’t change.

The Dalles City Council, acting in its capacity as the Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Board, voted to recommend a nine-month extension for Rapoza Development to purchase the Recreation Building and the Blue Building in the Granada Block for a hotel development, but placed more financial requirements on the extension than what was recommended by its advisory committee.  The extension plan that was approved by a 4-2 vote was put forward by Councilor Dan Spatz, and was based on an original agreement developed by a working committee he was a part of.  It calls for Rapoza to pay a $10,000 non-refundable deposit upon signing the agreement and another $40,000 by December 31, for the company to pick up carrying costs, and submit a hotel franchise application by April 30, with $40,000 of the $50,000 deposit going toward the franchise fee and the fees surrounding term sheets to generate capital through the federal EB-5 program.  The advisory committee had put forward a recommendation that required Rapoza to only provide a $10,000 deposit, but that was defeated by the board on 4-2 vote with only Bill Dick and Carolyn Wood supporting.  The extension includes a direction to staff to prepare a request for proposal for the property should Rapoza not be able to meet the timelines.  Tim McGlothlin joined Spatz, Dick, and Wood in approving the extension, while Linda Miller and Mayor Steve Lawrence voted against both proposals.  

The wintry weather of recent weeks pushed back planned work on the North Chenoweth Industrial Park.  Port of The Dalles Executive Director Andrea Klaas says they hoped to have a first layer of paving down this fall, but the cold temperatures may extend the paving work into next year.  The North Chenoweth site will be a part of the state of Oregon’s certified industrial site program.  That means due diligence has been done to allow building on the site to begin without delay.  Klaas noted the Port did that with the Google site in the early 2000s.

Governor John Kitzhaber’s proposed state budget for the 2015-17 biennium would provide a continuing level of funding for counties in Oregon.  Hood River County Administrator David Meriwether sees some positives in the area of public safety, with some more funding for community and juvenile corrections.  Meriwether says there are some tweaks in various budget areas, but overall it will be a continuing level of funding, which is welcome news after reductions the past few years.  He adds if the Oregon Supreme Court reverses reforms to the Public Employees Retirement System adopt by the Legislature there would be impacts on future budgets, but he does not expect that would change the upcoming biennium.

A 25-year-old Dallesport man faces burglary, theft, and mischief charges after breaking into the main office of the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport early Friday morning.  Klickitat County Sheriff’s Chief Criminal Deputy Pat Kaley says Christopher Wirshup was detained at gunpoint in the office by a nearby resident.  The initial crime scene investigation revealed that Wirshup had smashed out the windows of the office by using landscape bricks that were outside the building.  Wirshup was transported to the Klickitat County Jail where he was booked on charges of second degree burglary, second decree malicious mischief, and third degree theft.

Boys Basketball Franklin 74, Hood River Valley 53 Hood River Valley 71, Columbia 40 Washougal 64, Columbia 22 LaGrande 46, The Dalles 35 Stevenson 70, Lyle-Wishram 43 Stevenson 76, Klickitat 32 Lyle-Wishram 55, Arlington 24 Horizon Christian 83, Crow 64 Horizon Christian 71, Nixyaawii 56:  Horizon wins its tournament Sherman 69, Mac-Hi 61 Stanfield 73, South Wasco 51 Southwest Christian 69, Trout Lake 28 River View 70, Goldendale 64 (overtime)   Girls Basketball Franklin 46, Hood River Valley 43 Columbia 35, Hood River Valley 33 Washougal 60, Columbia 39 LaGrande 56, The Dalles 25 Lyle-Wishram 61, Stevenson 34 Lyle-Wishram 51, Arlington 39 Stevenson 52, Klickitat 37 Horizon Christian 40, Crow 34 Nixyaawii 60, Horizon Christian 38: Hawks finish second in their tourney. Sherman 44, Mac-Hi 27 Stanfield 45, South Wasco 35 Southwest Christian 34, Trout Lake 28 River View 54, Goldendale 30  

Mid-Columbia Health Foundation’s annual Festival of Trees auction is set for Friday night at The Dalles Civic Auditorium.  A number of one-of-a-kind decorated and donated by individuals, businesses, and organizations will up for bid, with proceeds going to the Celilo Cancer Center and the foundation’s Breast Health for Strong Families program.  The foundation’s Anne Copper says there are a number of unique trees.  The 21 and over event begins at 6 p.m. at The Dalles Civic Auditorium, with free admission but registration is appreciated by calling 541-296-7275.  Saturday the trees will be on display to the community before they are delivered from 9 a.m. to noon at the Civic.

This is the last weekend to sign up to receive holiday baskets through the Hood River County Christmas Project.  Sign-ups will take place Thursday at the Odell Food Bank from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Hood River Department of Human Services office on 1610 9th Court.  Applicants must bring proof they live in Hood River County and meet state low income eligibility standards.  Project coordinator Bruce Holmsen says those who would like to help with contributions can check out their website, hoodrivercountychristmasproject.com.  Barrels are located at various locations for people to donate food to the Hood River County Christmas Project.

A Columbia Gorge Community College Board of Education worksession shed some light on the school’s short- and long-term fiscal picture, but many questions remain.  Chief Financial Officer Will Norris said a $1,600,000 in the current fiscal year’s budget will be handled first by using $600,000 of contingency and will balance out when the school receives its final payment of state funding for the current biennium in July, just days after the fiscal year ends.  But the bigger budget problem board chair Meredith Van Valkenburgh acknowledges they will face will be in 2015-16, where there is currently a projected two million dollar gap between revenues and expenditures.  He also says closing that gap shouldn’t be on the backs of students through tuition increases.  Board member Stu Watson questioned growth in the President’s office from 2011-12 to now, but President Frank Toda noted institutional researcher and marketing coordinator positions in his budget are now unfilled, adding eleven CGCC staff members have moved on in recent months.  Van Valkenburgh did reiterate CGCC would not close its Hood River campus, a subject that drew a significant outcry when Toda suggested the potential for such a move as a cost cutting measure two weeks ago.

By a 4-3 vote following the latest state Land Use Board of Appeals remand on the matter, the Hood River City Council denied Wal-Mart’s application to expand its current facility on Cascade Avenue.  The final decision came after a series of votes as the Council added back members who had recused themselves due to potential bias.  The initial vote was 3-2 in favor of Wal-Mart being able to expand under what it claims were rights granted when the store was first approved over twenty years ago, but four votes are required to pass any motion.  So the Council envoked the “rule of necessity” to bring back first Mark Zanmiller and then Kate McBride, who both joined Brian McNamara and Laurent Picard in opposing the application, while Carrie Nelson, Ed Weathers, and Mayor Arthur Babitz were in favor.  Afterwards, Babitz felt they had followed a process that would stand up to LUBA scrutiny.  Before the vote when McBride was returned to the panel, Wal-Mart attorney Greg Hathaway said it was “unfair” the store would be denied the expansion permit based on what he felt were biased votes.