The Hood River City Council, acting in its capacity as the Urban Renewal Agency Board, decided to wait on making any decisions on changes to the Waterfront Urban Renewal District that could extend it, reduce its size or allow it to expire.  Port of Hood River Executive Director Michael McElwee made a presentation to the Council with various options that could allow for funds to be made available for infrastructure development on Lot 1 moving toward a public transit hub and a park area.  That project is seeking federal grant money that could pay for much of it, but McElwee says that is still uncertain.  Mayor Kate McBride said the array of options didn’t lend to an immediate decision.  Councilors have been discussing using the urban renewal acreage currently allocated for the Waterfront to eventually move forward with a Westside URA in the near future.

The Dalles City Council approved the latest step in the process of the rebuild of the Dog River water pipeline, approving a contract to clear timber along the pipeline corridor for construction to take place.  The contract was given to Bounds Excavation for just over $469,000.  City Public Works Director Dave Anderson told the Council the corridor the clearing will take place in is lengthy and narrow:  3 1/2 miles long and 25 feet wide.  Anderson noted the contract is just under the $500,000 that was budgeted for this portion of the Dog River project.

Riverside Community Church is planning a Train of Tears Commemoration and Procession on Friday, marking the 80th anniversary of the relocation and internment of Japanese-Americans from the Hood River Valley during World War II.  The church’s Vicky Stifter says the congregation there has wrestled with the issue of the silence of the church when the internment was occurring, and they crafted a declaration that acknowledges the silence of 80 years ago, the harm that caused, and a vow to never be silent again.  The commemoration will begin with exhibits from the History Museum of Hood River County on display at the church on 317 State in downtown Hood River at 11:30 a.m., followed by a presentation featuring Episcopal Bishop Diana Akiyama at noon, and then the procession to the Hood River train station for installation of a peace pole.

The Hood River Police Department said it seized 376 suspected Fentanyl pills while arresting a woman on Sunday.  According to a police statement the woman is facing several charges, including Unlawful Possession and Distribution of a Schedule II substance, Unlawful Possession and Distribution of Methamphetamine, DUII-Controlled Substance, driving while criminally suspended, unlawful possession of a firearm, and Theft III involving a local business establishment.  She also had a warrant for her arrest in Multnomah County.  The HRPD statement indicated officers are being proactive in the apprehension of people who come into the community with narcotics like Fentanyl.

Wasco County has a survey up on its website, asking for feedback from residents on its programs and services. Commissioner Kathy Schwartz says the survey is very general in nature, and helping the County to determine how well this kind of online outreach works. The survey is available at wascocounty.org.

Monday Schedule

Baseball

SW Washington Class 1A District Playoffs

Montesano 13, Columbia 2:  The Bruins play Eatonville in a loser-out game Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Castle Rock.

  Softball

Goldendale sweeps White Swan 18-8 and 11-7

Stevenson 1, Wahkiakum 0

  Girls Lacrosse

Grant 21, Hood River Valley 6

It appears a bill addressing increased protections for the Mount Hood Recreation Area will be introduced to a Congressional committee on Wednesday.  Hood River County Commission Chair Mike Oates said on the Mid-Columbia Today program Monday morning that Congressman Earl Blumenauer called him Friday and sent him a draft of what will be sent to committee this week.  Oates says after reviewing the draft, he felt issues the County have raised in talks with Blumenauer were addressed, but financial support remains a question.  Oates said the bill did include bringing in law enforcement through the Forest Service, which could take a financial burden off of Hood River County.

The Port of The Dalles has set its priorities for the upcoming fiscal year, and reestablishing personal contact with businesses on the Port is on top of the list.  Port Executive Director Andrea Klaas says they kept tabs on many of those businesses during the pandemic by phone or video conference, but they want to get back to face-to-face meetings.  Also on the priority list, addressing the expansion needs of area businesses, real estate opportunities, and continued work on potential Brownsfield clean-up projects.

Former Mayor of The Dalles Steve Lawrence is donating his extensive collection of books by and about Ernest Hemingway to Columbia Gorge Community College.  Lawrence last week formally transferred his Hemingway Collection to the CGCC library, where a Hemingway Room has been developed to permanently house the books.  Wasco County donated oak shelves from the historic Harding House at Fourth & Court to hold the collection.  The Hemingway Room is open during regular CGCC library hours.  Lawrence, a decorated veteran, found lifelong inspiration in the iconoclastic Hemingway, who doggedly disassembled the weighty, ponderous prose of the 19th Century with such works as The Sun Also Rises and A Farewell to Arms.  Hemingway’s short sentences and crisp, clean style created a new form of American literature.

Hood River County officials report the County is in good fiscal health, but inflation will have an impact on their Fiscal Year 2022-23 budget.  County Administrator Jeff Hecksel says they do have four collective bargaining agreements open right now, and inflation is having an impact on those.  He says inflation brings uncertainty to all areas of the budget.  The County does have some American Rescue Plan Act funds to consider in developing the budget, and Commission Chair Mike Oates said they plan to be conservative with those to make sure all the County’s pandemic related costs are covered.