Hood River Mayor:  Paul Blackburn 1,716…Greg Colt 837 Hood River City Council (top 3 win election):  Becky Brun 1,302…Susan  Johnson 1,037…Peter Cornelison 941…Tim Counihan 929…David Bick 779…Bob Palmer 735…Joseph Sheahan 538 Westside Fire District Operating Levy:  Yes 1,274…No 1,161 Cascade Locks EMS Service Fee:  Yes 248…No 146

County Commissioner:  Rod Runyon 4,612…Bridget Bailey 3,696 The Dalles City Council At-Large:  Taner Elliott 3,002…Carolyn Wood 1,417 The Dalles City Council Position 3:  Russ Brown 2,514…Bill Dick 1,164 Maupin Mayor:  Frank Kay 129…Karen Dupuis 99 Maupin City Council (3 elected):  Lynn Ewing 165…Randy Bechtel 164…Carol Rager 162…Scott Anderson 73…Joe Ringo 64

After Tuesday’s election: County Commissioner #3:  Bob Hamlin 1,824…Bob Anderson 1,307 Auditor:  Robert Waymire 1,949…BreAnna Mendoza 1,143 PUD Commissioner #3:  Liz Green 1,584…Thomas Linde 1, 342 Skamania County Metropolitan District:  Against 930…For 625

After Tuesday night’s count: Commissioner: David Sauter 3,123…Mike Richards 1,530 Prosecutor: David Quesnel 2,819…Lori Hoctor 2,197 Sheriff: Bob Songer 2,599…Marc Boardman 2,325 Assessor: Crista Schroder 2,803…Darlene Johnson 2,075 Mt. Adams Parks and Rec: No 1,525…Yes 1,056 West District Court Judge: Jeff Baker 1,635…Dave Brown 461 PUD Commissioner: Dan Gunkel 2,559…Sherry Carver 2,229

A search continues for a man who escaped from the Klickitat County Jail Monday morning.  Klickitat County Sheriff’s Chief Criminal Deputy Pat Kaley says several leads regarding Charles W. Loyd that were reported to them after his escape…but they have had no success in locating him.  Loyd…also known as Charles W. Foley…was incarcerated on kidnapping, robbery, burglary, assault, and theft of a firearm charges.  An arrest warrant for Escape in the Second Degree was issued Tuesday by the Klickitat County Superior Court for Loyd’s arrest.  Loyd is described as a 38-year-old white male, six feet tall, weighing about 230 pounds, with brown eyes.  If you have any information as to Loyd’s whereabouts contact your local law enforcement agency…the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office at (509)773-4455…or the Sheriff’s tip line at 877-288-1926.  Kaley added people should not attempt to contact or apprehend Loyd.  

Time is running out to submit your ballot in the 2014 general election.  In Oregon, ballots must be in County election offices or designated drop boxes by 8 p.m. Tuesday.  Wasco County voters should take their ballots to the County Courthouse on 511 Washington Street in The Dalles or to Maupin City Hall.  In Hood River County ballots can be taken to the County Administration Building at 601 State Street in Hood River or to Cascade Locks City Hall.  Washington voters need to have their ballots postmarked by Tuesday.  The Klickitat County Courthouse in Goldendale will be open Tuesday evening until 8 p.m. for ballot submissions, while drop boxes are available at the Dallesport Community Center, Lyle Lions Club, Roosevelt School, White Salmon Pioneer Center, at Park Place in Wishram, and in Klickitat at Highway 142 at Depot Park.  Skamania County ballots can be taken to the Auditor’s Office or the north side entrance of the County Courthouse in Stevenson, Carson Transit Station, Underwood Community Center, Little Church of the Valley in Stabler, and near North Bonneville City Hall.

Pacific Power is warning the public of a phone scam targeting utility customers in the Hood River area where imposters posing as customer service agents are trying to get money and steal personal information.   Scammers call residential or small business customers claiming to be from their local electric company and demand payment for overdue bills, at times telling the intended victim that they need to pay a special deposit for a new meter installation, and ask for immediate payment by credit card, calling another number, or purchasing a pre-paid card and calling back with the code.  Pacific Power officials say they do not this, and when they contact a customer, the representative will always have the customer’s account number.   Even then, if a customer is concerned about the validity of the call, it is always appropriate to let the caller know you prefer to call them back at the utility’s published customer service number.   Pacific Power can be reached any time toll free at 1-888-221-7070.  Anyone receiving such calls or other forms of contact regarding their utility account or bill is encouraged to pay close attention to any information – such as the phone number they are asked to call, a number that appears on caller ID, an address where they’re told to send money- and to report the incident to local police and Pacific Power, or their utility provider.

With October in the rearview mirror, the main tourism season in Hood River has wrapped up, and it appears it was a busy and fruitful year for local businesses.  Hood River County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mike Glover says the evidence indicates it was a good year, with transient room tax collections up significantly from past years.  And another busy stretch may be just around the corner.  Hood River Holidays activities are planned beginning December 5, and Glover notes that has grown in popularity since its inception just a few years ago.

Mid-Columbia Community Action’s Low Income Energy Assistance Program is underway.  Senior and disabled residents should have already received their applications, while Community Action will begin to make appointments to take applications from the general public on December 1.  The LIEAP program is federally funded and provides one-time payments to help pay winter heating bills.  Community Action’s Jim Slusher says funding for the program is down slightly this year.  Slusher says the funding is down 20 percent over the last five years.  Community Action will start taking appointments with people from the general public looking to apply for assistance at 8 a.m. on December 1 at both of its offices in The Dalles and Hood River.

Cross Country The Dalles finished fourth and Hood River Valley eighth at the Oregon Class 5-A Girls Cross Country Championships at Lane Community College in Eugene.  Emily Morin was the top finisher for the Riverhawks in 15th, while Lauren Robinson topped HRV in 2nd.  Hood River Valley was eighth in the Class 5-A boys’ race.  Justin Crosswhite was the top Eagle finisher in 21st.  Summit won both the girls and boys titles.   Columbia used three finishers in the top ten to win the Southwest Washington Class 1-A Boys’ Cross Country Championship at Lewis River Golf Course in Woodland.  Cabot Roe took fourth, while Will Nuckoles was seventh and Colin Howe 10th.  The Bruins finished fifth in the girls’ race behind champion Eatonville.  Rachel Luther of CHS was 12th and Haley Blair 13th.  The Washington 1-A meet is this Saturday at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.   Oregon Class 1-A Volleyball Second Round Dufur def. McKenzie 25-17, 25-19, 20-25, 25-17:  The Rangers advance to the final eight at Ridgeview High School in Redmond.  They meet Trinity Lutheran in a quarter-final match Friday at 10 a.m.   Oregon Class 5-A Boys Soccer Play-In LaSalle 2, The Dalles 0   Oregon Class 5-A Girls Soccer Play-In Wilsonville 7, The Dalles 1   Oregon Class 1-A Special District 6 Boys Soccer Championship Life Christian 3, Horizon Christian 2, overtime   Football Hood River Valley 34, The Dalles 6 Columbia 17, Stevenson 14 Sherman 52, Arlington 8 LaSalle 41, Goldendale 27