A dozen people were arrested Tuesday night in Goldendale as the result of a three-month investigation into a drug ring.  According to the Goldendale Police Department, the investigation began in February and led to search warrants served at five homes.  Those taken into custody face a variety of charges including delivery and possession of methamphetamine and heroin to illegal possession of a firearm.  Drugs, drug paraphernalia, and firearms were confiscated by law enforcement.  Officers from the Goldendale Police Department, Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office, and Washington State Patrol were involved in the searches and investigation.

The new regional Early Learning Hub for Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, and Wheeler counties has sent in its organizational proposal to the state.  Hood River County Health Promotion and Prevention Department Director Joella Dethman says the application went in last week, and some kind of decision will come in the middle of next month.  The regional hubs replace the individual county children and family commissions to coordinate services to assist in preparing children to start school ready to learn.

There will be a meeting on Saturday in Husum to discuss White Salmon River conservation efforts.  The Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group and the White Salmon River Watershed Management Committee are sponsoring the gathering.  Organizers are seeking input from landowners, residents, recreational users, businesses, and others on a fish habitat conservation strategy for the river.  The lower White Salmon River has seen substantial change since the removal of Condit Dam in 2012.  The meeting will take place Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at the Husum Fire Hall.  

Softball Hood River Valley 1, Hermiston 0:  Erika Enriquez singled home Jessie Karr in the fifth inning to score the game’s only run on the Eagles’ only hit in the contest, and keep HRV in a tie for first in the Columbia River Conference with Pendleton with one game remaining.  The Eagles’ Kayla Byers gave up only two hits and struck out 14 as she outlasted Hermiston’s Emily Sexton in a tight pitchers’ duel.  The Bulldogs’ did get a runner to third with one out in the seventh inning, but could not bring her home.   Pendleton 12, The Dalles 2   Baseball Pendleton 10, The Dalles 8 Hermiston 5, Hood River Valley 4   Golf Two golfers from The Dalles and one from Hood River Valley are advancing to next week’s Oregon Class 5-A tournaments with high finishes in the Columbia River Conference tournament at The Dalles Country Club.  In the boys’ tourney, The Dalles freshman Chase Snodgrass finished second and Hood River Valley junior Dan Kuechmann fourth to go to state at Quail Valley in Banks.  Pendleton won the team title behind medalist Brayden Pulver.  And among the girls, Illiana Telles of The Dalles took third place to go to Emerald Valley in Creswell next week.  Pendleton also won the girls title with a one-two finish by sisters Hailey and Shelby Greb.   Boys Soccer Southwest Washington Class 1-A District Semi-Final Columbia 3, Toledo 2   Boys Tennis Naches Valley 5, Goldendale 0   Girls Tennis Naches Valley 5, Goldendale 0

The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office has identified the fallen climber on Mt. Hood as 57 year old Robert J Cormier, a catholic priest from Jersey City, New Jersey.  Sheriff’s spokesman Pete Hughes says Cormier and two other men left Timberline Lodge at about 1:45 Tuesday morning to climb Mt. Hood.  Near the summit one of the men had to turn back due to a leg cramp…but Cormier continued up the mountain.  Upon reaching the summit of the mountain Cormier looked north and was seen falling through an ice cornice to the north side of the mountain.  A Sheriff’s Office search plane saw Cormier’s body at the 10,500 foot level of the mountain, and an Oregon Army National Guard  Blackhawk helicopter flew closer to Cormier and found no sign of life, with the crew believing he could not have survived the severe injuries they witnessed.  Hughes says search crews will not attempt a recovery of Cormier this week due to high temperatures and extreme avalanche danger in the area where Cormier’s body is, and will have to wait until the weather gives them an opportunity to recover his body.  

The Dalles City Council has approved an agreement with The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce for community marketing services.  The Chamber presented a work plan for the 2014-15 Fiscal Year that includes hiring a tourism coordinator to accommodate increased needs due to the influx of cruise boat dockings this year.  That position will focus on coordinating the needs of the cruise ships along with cycling tours and events, car groups, conferences, and sport groups and tournaments.  The Chamber is also researching a stand-alone kiosk for the festival park to compliment its structures and its design.  That would be implemented if they have enough remaining funds after the tourism coordinator position is filled.

The eight million dollars of proceeds from the sale of two land holdings in Eastern Oregon are now in Hood River County’s bank account.  County Commission Chair Ron Rivers says the vast majority of those proceeds will be reinvested into County forestlands.  He noted there are purchase opportunities now that were not available in 2002, when the County purchased the lands in Eastern Oregon.  About ten percent of the funds is targeted at other possibilities, including steps that can help the County generate more value from their timber holdings.

Wasco County is forming a Wolf Compensation Committee.  It will be made up of one County Commissioner, two livestock producers, two wolf advocates, and two local businesspersons nominated by the other five members.  County Commissioner Steve Kramer says it’s part of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s wolf program…and he hopes they never have to deal with livestock losses, but the committee needs to be in place to qualify the county for potential funding.  He adds there is a feeling some wolves are now in Wasco County.  Information on how to apply for the committee is available on the Wasco County website, and can be obtained by calling the County Commission office at 541-506-2520.

About one-thousand Pacific Power customers in Sherman County will experience a seven-hour electricity outage beginning at 10:30 p.m. Thursday night while the Bonneville Power Administration works on the transmission system serving the area.  Service should be restored by 5:30 a.m. Friday.  The outage will affect customers in Wasco, Moro, Biggs Junction, Grass Valley, Kent and surrounding areas.  Pacific Power customers in those areas are being notified individually about the outage.   They are also being reminded, as a precaution, to unplug any sensitive electronics during the outage and charge their cell phones before the outage or have extra batteries available.  Customers with questions about the planned outage can call Pacific Power toll free at 1-888-221-7070.  Any outages during that time outside the affected area should continue to be reported to Pacific Power at 1-877-508-5088.

There is one week left to get ballots turned in for the Oregon primary election.  The ballot return rate in Wasco County is just shy of 17 percent, while in Hood River County it is at 12 percent.  Election officials recommend not mailing ballots in after Thursday.  Those who wait past that day should drop their ballots off at designated locations. The deadline for ballots to be received at county election offices or drop boxes is next Tuesday at 8 p.m.