Columbia Gorge Community College Indian Creek campus in Hood River is closed to all students, staff, and faculty today due to a sewer pump failure.

Port of Hood River Commissioners this week voted to enter into a memorandum of understanding with farm machinery retailer Sheppard’s to develop a disposition and development agreement for the business to purchase and relocate on two acres of land at 2nd and Riverside at the entrance to the waterfront.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says the MOU has a six-month time frame, but he does not anticipate it will take that long.  He noted it does not appear there will have to be any change in zoning for the transaction to proceed, as the City has indicated the business is an accepted use in a light industrial zone.  He added the location would not have accommodated the typical light industrial building.

The Mt. Hood National Forest has lifted all campfire restrictions.  This order rescinded the previous order that restricted campfire use for areas east of Highway 35 to designated campgrounds within fire rings and prohibited Off Road Vehicle use on forest trails.  With the lifting of these restrictions, campfires are now allowed for dispersed camping, and OHV use is also allowed under normal regulations forest-wide.   Along with lifting fire restrictions, the Industrial Fire Precaution Level in all four units has dropped to level I.  Barlow District Ranger Kameron Sam acknowledged it may seem to be a strange time to lower fire restriction standards given recent fires in the region, but this is the time of year when moisture becomes more consistent and prevalent, temperatures start to drop, especially in the evenings, and overall fire behavior becomes less severe and less likely. Forest officials have monitored weather models in making their decision.

The eastbound lane of West 2^nd Street in The Dalles will be closed to all traffic between Lincoln and Webber on Sunday from 6 a.m. to about 6:30 p.m.  City Public Works crews will be doing a pavement maintenance project.  The one-day closure of the eastbound lane of West 2^nd will be complete, including emergency vehicles, from Lincoln to a point east of the Webber Street intersection.  Traffic will not be able to turn onto West 2^nd from Cherry Hts Road, and the eastbound off-ramp of I-84 will also be closed.  Westbound traffic will be maintained on this section of West 2^nd Street, but eastbound traffic will be detoured to West 3^rd and 6^th Streets.  Motorists are asked to drive cautiously for the safety of workers and the public.

The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigation into the disappearance of 42-year-old Joseph Ronald Sizemore of Portland.  Sizemore has been missing since the morning of September 7, when he was contacted by deputies for a motorist assist at approximately milepost 17 on the Washougal River Road in rural Skamania County.  Undersheriff Dave Cox says Sizemore has not had access to medications for numerous life threatening issues.  Sizemore is a white male adult, 5’09” and 275 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.  He was driving a 2009 Ford Focus, red in color with an Oregon trip permit in the back window, with no vehicle plates.  If anyone has seen Sizemore, they are requested to contact the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office at (509) 427-9490 extension 0, or call 9-1-1.

Northwest tribal and religious leaders have teamed up to call for updates to the Columbia River Treaty.  The treaty written in 1964 governs hydropower and flood control agreements between the U.S. and Canada, and key terms expire in ten years.  In the letter to President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the tribal and religious leaders say a modern treaty should include recognizing the rights of indigenous people and promoting environmental stewardship.  The leaders call for requiring fish passage at dams, protecting ecosystem health and cultural resources, adapting to climate change, and including tribal leaders and local communities in future decision making.  Federal agencies that manage the hydropower system have recommended updating the treaty, and Northwest lawmakers have asked the President to make negotiations a priority, but no talks have begun.

Two people were arrested in Gresham after a reported assault at a Cascade Locks hotel sent a man to a hospital.  According to the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrived at the Columbia Gorge Inn early Tuesday morning to find a 21-year-old Cascade Locks man injured.  Investigators identified two suspects in the assault residing in Gresham, and police there located the suspects Tuesday evening and took them into custody without incident.  18-year-old Steven Wade is charged with robbery, assault, theft, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and unlawful use of a weapon.  19-year-old Deanna Marie Schlunegger faces robbery and assault charges.  Both suspects are lodged at NORCOR.  The victim was transported to Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital for treatment, and was released a short time later.

Three candidates for Hood River City Council are banding together to form a single group.  Becky Brun, Tim Counihan, and Peter Cornelison are forming the Sustainable Hood River Political Action Committee to focus on initiatives they say would create a livable and vibrant community.  The trio’s goals include reducing pollution heading for the Columbia River, reducing the city’s greenhouse gas emissions, and creating more parks, green space, and trails for families.  The group plans to kickoff their campaign Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. at Volcanic Bottle Shop on 1410 12th Street in Hood River.

Volleyball Hermiston def. Hood River Valley 25-20, 18-25, 25-16, 22-25, 15-11 Pendleton def. The Dalles 25-15, 25-23, 25-9 LaCenter def. Columbia 25-6, 25-16, 25-13 Seton Catholic def. Stevenson 25-17, 25-10, 25-2 Sherman def. Arlington 25-16, 25-18, 26-24 Trout Lake def. Horizon Christian 25-4, 25-8, 25-8 Granger def. Goldendale 25-10, 25-16, 25-23 Trinity Lutheran swept South Wasco 3 games to 0