Oregon Second District Congressman Greg Walden is renewing his call for continued improvement of Veterans Administration operations.  In a Veterans’ Day video statement Walden says the VA has too often failed to live up to the standards those in uniform deserve, and while reform legislation has been passed and the first steps to implement that bill have taken place, more work needs to be done.  Walden announced he is holding a town hall meeting at the Hood River Valley Adult Center on Saturday at 8 a.m.

Operational testing of the lift span of the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge is scheduled for Monday, and it may lead to some traffic delays.  Port of Hood River officials say four to six full lifts of the center span will take place on Monday after 9 a.m.  Each lift takes about 15 minutes.  Traffic control will be provided and efforts will be made to minimize the disruption to traffic flow.  But commuters are warned they may want to allow extra time for crossing the bridge on Monday.  Those with questions can call the Port of Hood River at 541-386-1645.

Wasco County is seeking to fill some openings on its budget committee that will soon be working on the County’s fiscal plan for fiscal year 2015-16.  County Commissioner Scott Hege says six people make up the committee, three of whom are people from the community.  He says that panel lays the groundwork for everything the County will do in the upcoming year.  Those interested in serving on the Wasco County Budget Committee need to apply by November 28.  Application information is available on-line at wascocounty.org.

The body of a 38-year-old Portland woman was found Saturday afternoon near a popular windsurfing site west of Bingen.  Skamania County Undersheriff Dave Cox says the body of Jennifer Gouvea and her vehicle were located at the site known as Swell City along Highway 14.  Skamania County Sheriff’s Office detectives and officers, along with three members of a major crimes scene investigation team, processed the scene over the weekend.  Cox says the incident is under investigation as authorities await autopsy and toxicology test results to assist in determining the cause of death.

Tuesday is Veterans’ Day, and there will be observances in the Mid-Columbia.  In The Dalles…the annual Veterans’ Day parade will take place at 11 a.m. through downtown, with World War II Merchant Mariner Dr. Milt Skov serving as Grand Marshal.  There will be a barbecue at the Oregon Veterans Home at 1 p.m., and a fireworks display is planned for 6 p.m. from the commercial dock in The Dalles.  In Hood River, a Veterans Day ceremony is planned at 11 a.m. at Anderson’s Tribute Center on 1401 Belmont.  Breakfast will be served to all veterans between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. at the Elks Lodge on 304 Cascade Avenue  A ceremony and flag-raising is planned in Maupin at 11:30 a.m. at Canyon Rim Manor.

A new Facebook page has been put together to help promote products made in Wasco County.  Port of The Dalles Executive Director Andrea Klaas says the page is part of a partnership by the Port and other groups to help highlight what is available throughout the County in one location.  Products on the Made in Wasco County Facebook page span a variety of areas.  Klaas says anyone who is making a product who is not on the list should contact the Port of The Dalles to get mentioned on the Facebook page.

With Measure 91 passing to legalize recreational marijuana in Oregon, city and county officials will now be wrestling with what they should do to prepare.  Hood River County Commissioners will discuss it at a meeting this evening.  Both County Administrator David Meriwether and Commission Chair Ron Rivers say local governments will be looking for guidance from both the Legislature and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission as specific rules are put together.  Meriwether notes cities and counties will want input into what state officials do.  Commissioners last month decided not to adopt a tax on recreational marijuana, something other cities and counties had done in an attempt to beat a clause in the measure limiting taxing authority to the state.

The Hood River County Elections Office has sent letters telling people whose ballot has been challenged they have until November 14 to resolve that challenge and have the ballot counted.  Election officials are asking for people who receive such a letter to respond so the ballot can be counted, and also ensure their voter registration won’t be deactivated after the election.  In addition, county officials are required to release people to those who fill out a form and request the names of challenged ballots for signature challenges and unsigned ballots only.  A request has been made and responding to the County letter can prevent contact by unofficial parties.

Bonneville Lock and Dam’s Bradford Island Visitor Center will be temporarily closed Friday and between Tuesday and November 26.  Repairs to the bridge crossing the Bradford Island fish ladder, the primary entrance to the visitor center, will block visitor access.  Visitors will be redirected to the Washington shore visitor center, located on Washington Highway 14, which remains open.  The Bradford Island Visitor Center will be open Saturday through Monday.   All other recreation and fishing areas will be open.  The Bonneville Fish Hatchery will be unaffected by the construction and will remain open on its regular schedule.