Structural engineers will examine the condition of the Recreation Building in downtown The Dalles after torrential rains that accompanied a large thunderstorm on August 9 exacerbated problems with a corner arch putting too much pressure on the rest of the building.  Todd Carpenter and Carla McQuade, who have been renovating the building as a recreation facility, gave a report to the Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency board Tuesday night.  Concerns of a potential collapse led the City to close the north lane of East 2^nd in front of the building.  Carpenter says a support beam was split in several places, causing the arch to put downward pressure on the roof.  It was already a problem before the heavy rain on August 9 worsened the split.  Structural engineers will assess the building to determine what the next step should be.  URA attorney Gene Parker told the board the agency had insurance on the building.  Board chair Gary Grossman told Carpenter that once the structural assessment and insurance claims are known, the URA can then to determine what it can do to help.

Klickitat County and its three incorporated cities have agreed to claim a portion of state sales tax revenues they collect to put towards affordable housing efforts.  The Washington Legislature passed a bill this year to allow cities and counties to apply for the rebate that is expected to provide $50,000 to $60,000 a year, and the cities agreed to work with the County to create one pool of money.  County Commissioner David Sauter says the state has committed to the rebates for 20 years, adding it dovetails with a similar program already in place for recording fees.  The County Commission has to pass a resolution and submit an application to claim the funds.

The Oregon Department of Forestry is looking for information from anyone who may have seen anything that could have been related to start of last Friday’s small fire at Viento State Park.  Christie Shaw of ODF says there was no conclusive determination of cause.  Shaw says anyone who may have seen something on Friday afternoon leading up to the fire is encouraged to call ODF in The Dalles at 541-296-4626.  The fire was mapped at just over eight-tenths of an acre in size.

The Hood River County Forestry Department says due to unforeseen delays in on-going road construction, Family Man Staging Area, Riordan Hill Forest Road, and nearby recreation trails will continue to be closed weekdays until work is completed and the area is safe to enter.  All trail access points within the area have temporary signage indicating the closure.  Road construction activity affecting Family Man Staging Area access may continue into September.  There is also a temporary road closure from the end of the pavement on Riordan Hill Road to the gate one-quarter mile west of Family Man Staging Area.  Those with questions can contact the County Forestry office at 541-387-6888.

The Hood River Lions Club has unveiled their plans to build a roof over the stage at Jackson Park.  The club’s foundation is funding the project, which is estimated to cost $150,000.  Club member Mike Schend, who for years coordinated the Families In The Park concert series on that stage in his role as Hood River County School District Community Education director, says the free-standing cover will protect the stage from both the heat and the rain.  Schend says the goal is to begin construction on the wood structure in March of 2020 and be finished in May.  This past spring the Lions Club reinforced the walls of the stage with basalt rock.

It’s a busy time for county fairs in the area.  The Sherman County Fair is underway in Moro and will continue through Saturday.  The Wasco County Fair starts Thursday in Tygh Valley, and the fair’s Zach Harvey says that as usual it will be Free Family Day sponsored by The Dalles Disposal.  The Klickitat County Fair is also starting up in Goldendale, and Queen Samantha Demchuk says Thursday features 4-H and F-F-A events along with the kickoff barbecue at 5 p.m.  Both the Wasco and Klickitat County fairs conclude on Sunday.

A group forming a trust to purchase land in White Salmon, Klickitat County, and Hood River County for construction of affordable housing has taken another step forward.  The Big River Land Trust on Monday was notified its incorporation as a non-profit in the state of Washington has been certified, and expects the same in Oregon in the next month.  White Salmon Mayor David Poucher says they aren’t ready yet to take donations, but they are getting closer.  Their goal is to get 40 to 100 units into home ownership “fairly quickly.”  The land trust would retain the property the homes are built on, limiting appreciation on the homes to one-and-a-half percent per year.  Poucher said the target group will be those making between 60 and 120 percent of the median income in the region.

The group Gorge Owned will be starting its “Bridging the Gorge” community conversation series Wednesday in The Dalles.  Gorge Owned executive director Courtney Christenson says it is based on Oregon Humanities’ “Bridging Oregon” series that she was a part of, and she’s says it’s meant to be a reflective conversation about connecting as a community.  The first of the series is Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Odd Fellows Lodge in The Dalles, with others set for September and October in Bingen and The Dalles.  Tickets are $10 per person, and available at through gorgeowned.org.

The Dalles Public Works Department says the sidewalk and the north lane of East 2^nd Street in front of the Recreation building will be closed to all traffic for an unknown amount of time due to work that will be occurring on the building.  The department says the purpose of the closure is to create a safety perimeter around the building.  There is no estimate on when the sidewalk and traffic lane will be reopened.  Adjacent business access will be open while the safety perimeter is in place.

Oregon Second District Congressman Greg Walden announced he will hold town hall meetings in Sherman, Gilliam, and Wasco counties next week.  The Hood River Republican will be in Rufus at Bob’s Texas T-Bone on August 28 at 9 a.m.  He will then move on to the Arlington Fire Hall for another session at 11:15 that morning.  On August 30 Walden will be in Tygh Valley at the Tygh School Community Center for a town hall that will start at 9:30 a.m.