Google announced Wednesday the launch on its Google Maps of panoramic images of twenty sites throughout the Gorge.  The images were captured through the Google Maps Trekker program…which consists of 15 lenses at the top of a mast, each angled to provide a 360-degree panoramic view.  Hood River County Chamber of Commerce volunteers were outfitted with wearable Trekker backpacks, and then set out on foot to capture some of the Gorge’s most spectacular areas.  The Columbia River Gorge is the first region in the Pacific Northwest to be highlighted by Google Maps Trekker.  

The Klickitat County Commission will hold a public hearing Thursday evening on the three-year-old Husum/BZ plan and zoning update.  County officials say members of the public requested the review.  The update included rezoning some certain lands from Resource Lands allowing a variety of lot sizes to residential zoning allowing subdivision into one or two acre lots in an attempt to meet a projected need for 259 new residential lots over the next 20 years.  Since the update went into effect, thirteen new lots have been created.  Thursday evening’s hearing begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Pioneer Center in White Salmon.

Preparations for this weekend’s Northwest Cherry Festival continue at a quick pace, with the big three-day event beginning on Friday.  This year’s expansion to three days after focusing on Saturday in previous years and a move of the center of the festival to First Street has organizers hoping this will be the biggest year ever for the event.  The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson says success would be great attendance, positive feedback, and community participation.  Farquharson says festival vendors have been excited about the move to three days, with a greater chance for sales and exposure.

With Klickitat County having received a drought declaration from the state, White Salmon Mayor David Poucher says it opens up options to bring water to the city if it is needed this summer.  Poucher says Buck Creek, the City’s main water source, is flowing at only 35 percent of normal, and he says that has municipal officials looking at what their options are just in case.  He pointed out anything they would do for an emergency should be able to be done quickly, and not be intended to last a long time.  Poucher noted the current Buck Creek level is lower than back in 2001 and 2005, which were also drought years.

Twenty-four hundred Northern Wasco County PUD customers lost power Monday morning when a turkey flew into power lines, causing protection devices to open at the PUD’s 10th Street Substation.  The outage occurred around 6 a.m. Monday.  Power was restored in stages, with about 1,400 customers regaining electricity within 45 minutes and another 750 were back up by about 8:30 a.m.  About 250 customers on Mill Creek south of West 23rd Street were without power until about 10:15 a.m., when repairs were completed.

A double-wide mobile home was destroyed by a Sunday afternoon fire in The Dalles.  Dave Laphof of Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue says the fire occurred at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday at 4109 Chenowith Road.  The mobile home was fully consumed by fire by the time crews were able to arrive.  Two adults and two children occupied the home, and all got out safely.  Laphof says the fire started rekindling this morning and crews were called in to extinguish the hotspot, so the investigation into what caused the fire has not yet begun.

Coming off its spring planning session, the Port of Hood River Commission is moving into a new phase.  The Port spent 2014 concentrating on finishing capital projects that were underway.  With those moving toward completion, Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says emphasis will return to property development, especially with the Port’s acquisition of the Lower Hanel Mill expected to close in early July.  McElwee adds the vision for the nine-and-a-half acres include locating distribution, warehousing, and light industrial manufacturing, with the Port selling some of the property and retaining one or two lots to develop itself to meet a demand for leased property.

The expanded Northwest Cherry Festival will be starting in The Dalles.  The festival will now have a broader range of events to encompass the Friday through Sunday period rather than just Saturday.  The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson feels there is a renewed excitement for the festival.  The festival gets off to an early start Tuesday evening with the annual lip sync contest featuring local groups competing to benefit local charities, starting at 7 p.m. at The Dalles High School Auditorium.  Admission is $5.  The event also features the crowning of Cherry Festival royalty.

Track and Field Hood River Valley won both the boys and girls titles at their Apple Blossom Invitational at Henderson Stadium.  Sebastian Barajas, Parker Kennedy, and Parker Irusta won two events each for the HRV boys, while Horizon Christian’s Salvador Ramirez won the 1500 meters and Goldendale’s Brian Golding took first in the 300 meter hurdles.  In the girls’ competition, HRV’s Jestena Mattson won three events and teammate Emily Viuhkola won the 400 meters, while Goldendale’s Ocean Bryan won the 300 meter hurdles.   South Wasco’s Isaiah Coles won the boys’ long jump and triple jump to lead the effort by area schools at the River’s Edge Invitational at Umatilla.  Dufur’s Jake Little won the boys’ javelin, and South Wasco’s Ana Popchock was first in the girls’ javelin.   Lyle-Wishram’s Gabe Montoya won the boys’ shot put and javelin, Josh Showalter took first in the boys’ pole vault, and MaeLynn Luke and Ellie Smith finished one-two in the girls’ javelin at the Kittitas Invitational.   Washougal won the boys’ title and Corbett the girls’ at the McKee Invitational in Stevenson.  Columbia finished second among the girls and third for the boys…while Stevenson was fifth for the boys and sixth for the girls.  Columbia’s Shawn Tardiff won the boys’ 200 and 400 meters and Stevenson’s Brandon Campbell took the pole vault, while the Bruin girls received wins from Claire Anderson in the 100 meters, Lauren Thiesies in the high jump, and Alondra Casarez-Garcia in the 100 meter hurdles.  Stevenson’s Madison McCrum was first in the girls’ triple jump.   Baseball Hood River Valley splits with Pendleton, winning game one 5-1 and losing game two 9-8 The Dalles splits with Hermiston, winning the opener 4-1 but falling in the nightcap 5-0. Culver sweeps Sherman 5-2 and 14-10 Castle Rock 11, Columbia 1 Kalama 10, Stevenson 5 Sunnyside Christian sweeps Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 13-12 and 9-0 Zillah sweeps Goldendale 12-1 and 17-8   Softball Pendleton sweeps Hood River Valley 15-2 and 9-0 The Dalles sweeps Hermiston 6-5 and 5-4 Kalama 5, Stevenson 3 Zillah sweeps Goldendale 14-0 and 13-0   Boys Soccer Stevenson 6, King’s Way Christian 1 Columbia 2, King’s Way Christian 0   Boys Tennis Hood River Valley 6, Philomath 2 Oregon Episcopal 5, Hood River Valley 3 Zillah 2, Goldendale 2 Kiona-Benton 4, Goldendale 1   Girls Tennis Zillah 5, Goldendale 0 Goldendale3, Kiona-Benton 1   Girls Lacrosse Westview 13, Hood River Valley 5