When a school facilities task force gave its recommendations to North Wasco County School District 21 this week, it urged the D-21 board to plan to go out for a bond measure in November 2016.  The report from the group revolved around three concepts for construction of a new high school, and included other possibilities involving elementary schools and an early learning center.  Panel member Joan Silver feels there is a momentum in The Dalles community to make this happen, and passage of a bond measure in November would be eligible to receive eight million dollars in state matching funds that might not be there after 2016.  Superintendent Candy Armstrong indicated The D-21 board will be discussing the topic in January.

The latest state economic forecast released this week showed Oregon’s tax revenue remaining stable, but there are budget challenges looming for legislators in the next couple of years.  Republican 26th District Senator Chuck Thomsen sees two big problems in particular, both on the spending side.  They are paying Public Employee Retirement System obligations, and rising health care costs.  Thomsen said the federal economic forecast does provide some positive aspects.  But the state report warned a weakening in the stock market would impact capital gains revenues, and uncertainty with foreign trading partners could cause problems for export sector of Oregon’s economy.

The North Wasco County School District 21 board received ideas for a new high school from a community school facilities task force.  The group presented three main concepts for a new high school, one at the current Wahtonka campus, one on a hilltop site south of Columbia Gorge Community College, and a site on Highway 30 that would require a National Scenic Area plan amendment from the Columbia River Gorge Commission.  All three come with pros and cons, and D-21 Superintendent Candy Armstrong says the district board will look for more community input and will discuss the subject in January.  The task force acknowledged other facility needs for D-21, but in its presentation said it felt the location of a new high school will subsequently reveal opportunities for resolving elementary school problems, and also presented concepts for an early learning center.  The group would like to see D-21 seek a bond measure in November 2016 to take advantage of eight million dollars in matching funds from the state.

New Mid-Columbia Council of Governments Executive Director Bob Francis is getting settled in to the job.  Francis oversees an organization that provides a number of different services to five counties and 11 cities.  He says one of his main tasks in coming months is to write a number of grant requests, noting the future of federal funding streams are a concern, particularly in workforce development.  Francis says the MCCOG board will hold a strategic planning and goal setting session early next year.

Mid-Columbia Health Foundation’s annual Festival of Trees will take place Friday evening in The Dalles Civic Auditorium.  The annual auction of specially decorated Christmas trees will benefit the Breast Health for Strong Families program and the Celilo Cancer Center Fund.  The foundation’s Anne Copper says various organizations design and decorate each tree.  Tickets are $10 for the 21 and over event, and can be purchased by calling the foundation at 541-296-7275.  Doors open at 6 p.m. Friday, with the auction beginning at 7 p.m.  On Saturday, the trees will be on display at the Civic for Community Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Hood River Holiday Kick-Off Party will take place Friday evening in downtown Hood River.  The Holiday Happy Hour will start the event at 4 p.m., with the streets being closed at 5 p.m.  The Holiday Parade is at 6 p.m., and those who wish to take part should check-in at the start of the parade near Oak and 7th between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.  After the parade, the Community Tree Lighting will take place at Overlook Memorial Park.

A 24-year-old man from The Dalles was taken into custody on Wednesday after a standoff that closed Highway 97 six miles south of Biggs Junction for about four hours.  According to the Oregon State Police, a trooper checked on a van parked along the highway and was advised it had been reported as stolen late last week.  The occupant of the van, Dean Allen Bromley, initially complied with officers’ orders to exit the van, but then jumped backed in and would not come out.  An OSP SWAT team was brought in with an armored vehicle that allowed them safe access to the van and Bromley, and deployed chemicals agents to get him to exit the vehicle.  Bromley was lodged at the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility in The Dalles on one count of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.

Wednesday night’s planned Project ELFF canned food drive through the western portion of The Dalles has been cancelled due to a forecast of continued icy conditions.  Bob Mazzrillo of the Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue Volunteer Association said they will be accepting donations of non-perishable food at the MCFR station on Eighth and Webber.  The drive collected 82-hundred units of food in the east end of The Dalles on Tuesday night.  Project ELFF is planning to collect donations in Dallesport on Thursday night.

The Oregon Department of Transportation is advising travelers to frequently check road conditions and use extreme caution or delay travel plans altogether.   ODOT crews, working 12-hour shifts, have applied deicer along all lanes of Interstate 84 between Hood River and Troutdale.   Other roads treated with deicer include U.S. Highway 26, and Oregon Highways  224/212 and 211.  In addition, an I-84 maintenance project between mileposts 51 and 56 has been postponed.  The project would have closed one lane in both directions.  Maintenance crews will be checking I-84 and other roads Tuesday night.

The 30th annual Project ELFF (Everyone Loves a Firefighter) canned food drive will take place in The Dalles and Dallesport over the next three nights.  Bob Mazzrillo is one of those in charge of the project sponsored by the Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue Volunteer Association. Dallesport Fire District, The Salvation Army, and St. Vincent DePaul, and he says all of the food collected stays in The Dalles and Dallesport.  Fire trucks will be collecting food in The Dalles east of Union Street this evening, on the west side of The Dalles Wednesday evening, and in Dallesport on Thursday, with collection taking place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. all three nights.  Simply leave your donation of non-perishable food items on the front porch.