Restrictions on chain saws, campfires, and off-road vehicles on Oregon Department of Forestry protected lands within Hood River and Wasco counties have been lifted.  The ODF says the area remains in fire season, so the use of exploding targets, tracer ammunition, and sky lanterns will still be prohibited.  All forest operations are still required to have fire equipment on site and provide a fire watch.  As part of a cooperative effort between ODF and local fire agencies, Hood River County’s burn ban for burn barrels and small backyard piles will be lifted as of 1 a.m. this coming Monday.  Large industrial piles or fuel treatment project piles are still not allowed.  Permits are still required for all outdoor burning activities.  A burn ban in Wasco County will remain in effect until further notice.

Gorge Soup is returning for its fourth season with three planned events including a new event focused on the arts.  The original Gorge Soup will lead off the season on November 17 at Celilo Restaurant and Bar in Hood River.  Genevieve Scholl-Erdmann explains Gorge Soup brings together people for a soup and bread dinner featuring presentations from good ideas and the beginnings of a plan to turn them into reality, with guests voting on who has the best presentation and that person receiving money raised through ticket sales.  Applications to be a presenter are being accepted through October 27 and are available at gorgesoup.wordpress.com.  Tickets are also on sale at the site for $35.  Gorge Soup for Kids is scheduled for February 25, and a new Gorge Soup for the Arts is being planned for early May.

Volleyball Hood River Valley def. Hermiston 25-22, 25-23, 21-25, 25-12 The Dalles def. Pendleton 18-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-14:  The Dalles hosts Hood River Valley on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Kurtz Gym with the winner grabbing the Columbia River Conference championship. LaCenter def. Columbia 25-14, 25-18, 25-21 Seton Catholic def. Stevenson 25-13, 25-21, 25-15 Yakama Tribal def. Klickitat 25-21, 26-24, 25-12 Granger def. Goldendale 25-21, 22-25, 22-25, 25-22, 15-13   Girls Soccer Hood River Valley 1, Pendleton 0:  Sindy Magana scored the only goal as the Eagles clinched the Columbia River Conference championship. Highland 9, Goldendale 0   Boys Soccer Hood River Valley 10, Pendleton 1 Hermiston 2, The Dalles 0   Cross Country Hood River Valley was third and The Dalles fourth in the girls’ race at the Wildhorse Invitational in Pendleton.  Daisy Dolan was the top Eagle finisher in fifth place, while Avery Cardosi topped the Riverhawk contingent in 16^th.  In the boys’ race The Dalles was fifth and HRV seventh.  HRV’s Connor Truax was fifth, while The Dalles’ Jony Nelson was eighth.

Klickitat County Commissioners have extended the burn ban in unincorporated areas east of the Klickitat River through October 31.  That’s due to extreme fire hazards and low precipitation.  The ban had been due to expire at the end of September.  The public is directed to check with the appropriate authorities concerning burning restrictions within the corporate limits of any city or town in Klickitat County.

Thursday is the “Great American Shakeout,” an effort to raise awareness of being prepared for a major earthquake.  Hood River County Health Department director Ellen Larsen says at 10:15 a.m. Thursday, people are being asked to take part in an earthquake drill.  Rescue teams who have been dispatched to the scene of earthquakes continue to advocate use of “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.”  That means drop to the ground, take cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on to it until the shaking stops.

The Dalles Theatre Company is in the midst of celebrating its 50th year of performances.  It started in 1965 as “The Masqueraders” doing one show a year, and now usually produces three shows a season.  Long-time member Dennis Morgan says there have been many people involved in bring live theatre to The Dalles over the years, and not just those on stage.  He says the group could not have done it without the people who behind the scenes to make the plays happen.  The Theatre Company’s production of “Dracula:  The Musical” will open on Friday at 7 p.m. in The Dalles Civic Auditorium Theater, and will run Friday and Saturday nights for the next three weeks plus an October 25 matinee at 2 p.m.  Tickets are available at Klindt’s Booksellers.

Volleyball The Dalles def. Hermiston 25-20, 21-25, 29-27, 25-16:  The Riverhawks remain in a tie for first in the Columbia River Conference with Hood River Valley with two matches remaining. Hood River Valley def. Pendleton 27-25, 25-11, 14-25, 25-21:  Shae Duffy had 10 kills for HRV while Katie Kennedy added nine, and Rebecca Johnston served nine aces. King’s Way Christian def. Columbia 25-18, 25-20, 21-25, 25-21 LaCenter def. Stevenson 25-18, 25-18, 25-21 South Wasco def. Horizon Christian 25-20, 25-19, 25-14 Goldendale def. Highland 25-10, 25-9, 25-14   Boys Soccer Hood River Valley 7, The Dalles 0:  Joel Garcia and Noe Magana scored two goals each to lead the Eagles to the win.   Girls Soccer Hood River Valley 3, The Dalles 1:  Kassidy Davidson had a goal and two assists to lead the Columbia River Conference leaders to the win. LaCenter 6,  Columbia 4 Stevenson 1, Castle Rock 0:  The Bulldogs win their first Trico League match of the season. Cle Elum-Roslyn 9, Goldendale 0

Wasco County Commissioner Rod Runyon has been re-appointed by Oregon Governor Kate Brown to the North Central Regional Solutions Advisory Committee.  The panel brings together regional leaders to identify economic and community development priorities and align private, public, and philanthropic resources to address those needs.  Runyon said the group has been successful in identify projects and gaining funding, noting they just secured two million dollars for dealing with housing issues in the region, and some funding for broadband services in the southern part of Wasco County expected in the spring of 2017.

A long-planned project to relocate the outfall pipe from Hood River’s wastewater treatment plant into the Columbia River is starting today.  City Manager Steve Wheeler says the move was necessitated by changes in river flows as the result of debris flows during a 2006 storm.  In-water work has to take place between mid-November and mid-March, and the complete project should wrap up in the spring.  The City received a low interest loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture loan to do the work.

The Dalles High School varsity football team will be back on the field this week.  North Wasco County School District 21 announced the team will play its scheduled game with Hermiston on Friday night at Sid White Field.  The district cancelled last week’s scheduled game with Nyssa, citing safety concerns after a rash of injuries reduced the number of players on the team under 20.  The Riverhawks’ freshman and sophomore team had continued its schedule, and school athletic director Mike Somnis had reiterated a decision made earlier to not bring up freshmen to help the varsity finish the season, as had been done in recent seasons.  Friday’s game will start at 7 p.m. at Sid White Field.