The Port of The Dalles is aiming to begin the process of putting together an update of its strategic plan by the start of 2023. Port Executive Director Andrea Klaas says with the Port not holding a large amount of business-ready land at this time, this plan forces the agency to re-evaluate how it does business. She says the timeline they have established calls for the strategic plan to be completed by the end of June. The Port is receiving funding from Business Oregon to help pay for development of the strategic plan.

Washington Class 2B Volleyball Tournament in Yakima

First Round:  Lind-Ritzville-Sprague def. Goldendale 26-24, 25-21, 25-21

Consolation:  Okanogan def. Goldendale 25-18, 26-24, 26-24

The lead changed hands again in the very close race for Klickitat County Sheriff.  Challenger Garique Clifford had edged 49 votes ahead of incumbent Bob Songer in an update from County election officials on Thursday.  Clifford now has 4,511 votes, while Songer has 4,462.  Clifford had the lead after initial count on election night, but after Wednesday’s round of ballot counting Songer had taken a narrow lead.  And the County estimates there are another 2,218 ballots left to count, as votes postmarked by Tuesday continue to come in.  The next ballot count is set for Monday at 5 p.m.  The race for sheriff in Skamania County is also close, with Summer Scheyer leading David Waymire by 40 votes, 2,888 to 2,848.  Skamania County election officials estimate another 125 ballots remain to be counted, with another update planned for Tuesday.

The mayor of Rufus was in court in Hood River on Thursday to be arraigned on charges related to an alleged road rage shooting on Halloween night near Parkdale.  Dowen Jones pleaded not guilty to first-degree attempted murder and four counts of first-degree attempted assault.  Jones is accused of shooting at a family while they were in their vehicle on Highway 281 on Halloween night.  The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office says the family was traveling south when an SUV that was driving erratically in front of them abruptly pulled over to the side of the highway.  The family slowed to get a description of the driver and then a man stepped out of the passenger side and fired multiple rounds at the family.  No one was injured.  Jones’ next court appearance was scheduled for December 7.

Hood River’s Veterans Day ceremony will feature a tribute to honor all Japanese Americans veterans in Oregon, and the commander of Hood River American Legion Post 22 will address past discrimination and apologize for the removal of the names of 16 Nisei veterans from an honor roll at the County Courthouse during World War II.  Carl Casey will be presenting new Post resolutions rescinding past wrongs and promising a united future.  Gary Akiyama, whose father George was one of the Nisei veterans whose name was removed, says those actions are meaningful to their families.  Akiyama will be one of the guest speakers at the ceremony.  The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. at Anderson’s Tribute Center.  

The Mid-Columbia Health Foundation’s Festival of Trees is coming up on the first weekend of December, and there is still times for groups who would like to decorate a tree for the auction to get signed up.  Foundation Executive Director Amanda Evans says they have 12 trees so far, but there is plenty of room for more.  Sign-ujp information is available at mcmc.net/fot.  The gala and auction will be on Friday, December 2 at 6 p.m. at the Civic.  Tickets are $20, and are available by calling 541-296-7275.  Proceeds benefit nursing scholarship, patient assistance, and the Celilo Cancer Center fund.  There will also be a free community open house to view the trees on Saturday, December 3 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Civic.

Google announced it is contributing $100,000 to the Mid-Columbia Community Action Council to benefit their forthcoming Navigation Center, an inclusive space for those experiencing housing instability or poverty in Wasco, Hood River, and Sherman counties.  The Center will act as a community space where guests can access housing and job services, dining and shelter options, healthcare support, and more.  It’s the largest of three grants Google announced on Wednesday.  In addition, Google said it is renewing an investment to provide the roughly 100 residents of Celilo Village with continued high-speed internet access.  And the company is providing funding to the Dufur School District that will directly support its growing computer science program through the purchase of VEX educational robots that will allow K-12 students to get hands-on STEM experience and provide enrichment opportunities in after school and summer programs.  The three grants being made by Google total $145,000.

Mt. Hood Meadows says it is on track for a Friday after Thanksgiving opening, and perhaps earlier with more snow.  Meadows received 17 inches of snow in the base area through Monday – lifting the snow depth to 23 inches.  Snow harvesting efforts will begin this week to fortify the base area snowpack, with an emphasis on lift loading zones.  The forecast has dried out over the next ten days, but temperatures continue to be cold which is good for snow harvesting and reinforcing the base.  Meadows harvests snow from the parking lot and hauls it to base area lifts to supplement the natural early season snowpack.  The storm deposited more snow at mid-mountain, but the upper mountain looks a bit scoured due to the high winds which peaked at 115 mph at the top of Cascade Express.

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce says it has arranged an official flyover Friday morning during the city’s annual Veterans Day Parade.  The flyover will feature an F-15 Eagle, and will fly over The Dalles on Friday morning at about 11:25.  The annual Veterans Day Parade in The Dalles will begin at 11 Friday morning.  It will take the usual route through downtown The Dalles.

Wasco and Hood River counties will continue counting ballots that arrive in their offices by mail with postmarks from yesterday or before.  Wasco County says it will post updated results on Monday, with final counts to be posted once they are certified, which Clerk Lisa Gambee says will be sometime around December 2.  Hood River County plans to issue an update next Wednesday, with another update including resolved challenged ballots set for November 30, and certification no later than December 5.  Turnout was 65 percent in Hood River County and just under 62 percent in Wasco County.