The Columbia River Gorge Commission is waiting to see what Washington Governor Jay Inslee’s proposed budget for the 2015-17 biennium holds.  Two weeks agom Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber included $1,694,000 in his 15-17 budget for the Gorge Commission, an 89 percent increase from the current biennium.  But the National Scenic Area Compact requires the two states to provide an equal amount of funding.  Gorge Commission Executive Director Darren Nichols says he feels hopeful about what Inslee will propose, even though Washington faces some serious budget challenges.  Nichols adds he hopes both Governors and Legislators recognize the need to invest in governance of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in a number of different areas.

The Hood River County Planning Department’s decision to approve a commercial land use permit for an ampitheater at the former Dee mill site has made it through a County Planning Commission hearing.  Commissioners voted 3-2 to support the approval, but that is one short of the four needed to actually affirm the decision.  As a result, the Planning Department decision to approve the permit stands.  Once an order outlining the permit decision is signed by the panel, there will be a 15-day period to file an appeal to the County Commission.  The ampitheater is proposed by Jason Taylor of Apollo Land Holdings.  The Hood River Valley Residents Committee appealed the permit approval by the Planning Department.

The search is continuing today for a 31-year-old Milwaukie man who has been missing in the Mount Hood area since the weekend.  The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office is leading the search for Gerren Kirk, who was reported missing by his family over the weekend when he did not return home from a camping trip.  Kirk’s car was found Monday in the Frog Lake Campground parking lot off of Highway 26.  An aerial search was planned for today.  The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, Crag Rats, and the U.S. Forest Service are assisting in the search for Kirk.  Anyone who might have information should call the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office at 541-506-2580.

Health officials are still urging people to get a flu shot, even though a Centers for Disease Control report last week indicate the vaccine is less effective this year because of a mutated virus that doesn’t match the strains included in the vaccine.  The Hood River County Health Department’s Ellen Larsen says it is still a good idea to get a flu shot, noting during some flu seasons the primary strain will change.  Larsen notes flu shots remain available from health care providers and pharamcies.  She adds the Hood River County Health Department does have flu vaccine available for those who are uninsured.

Boys Basketball Hood River Valley 76, Putnam 71 Barlow 56, The Dalles 38 Kalama 44, Columbia 39 Dufur 65, Culver 26 Lyle-Wishram 52, South Wasco 46 Horizon Christian 62, Riverside 36 White Swan 45, Goldendale 43   Girls Basketball Putnam 48, The Dalles 44 Ridgefield 60, Stevenson 37 Culver 42, Dufur 31 Lyle-Wishram 60, South Wasco 36 Riverside 53, Horizon Christian 17 Goldendale 43, White Swan 34

The Hood River City Council has approved a resolution opposing transporting crude oil through the Columbia River Gorge by rail or barge.  In the resolution, City officials say they agree with concerns outlined earlier this year by the Columbia River Gorge Commission in regards to the potential hazards surrounding the oil trains.  The City asks the Governors of Oregon and Washington to oppose crude oil transport through the Gorge, and urges the federal government to immediately implement safety regulations on train speeds and car designs which are not proven to safely transport crude oil.  Councilors also want Union Pacific Railroad to submit an emergency environmental clean-up plan, and the state to do an environmental impact statement on the impacts of the crude oil transport on communities.

The Port of The Dalles is beginning to highlight some of the businesses on Port property in video vignettes on its website.  Port Executive Director Andrea Klaas says it was the brainchild of Port Marketing Director Kathy Ursprung.  She says part of the Port’s mission is not only to bring in new business to the community but support existing businesses.  Klaas also notes that some of the Port’s best advertising is the current businesses who are having success, and this lets potential new tenants know the who their neighbors are.  The videos are also available on a Port of The Dalles YouTube channel.

Wasco County Commissioner Rod Runyon says road issues played a large part in an Association of Oregon Counties Legislative Committee meeting in preparation for the upcoming legislative session in Salem.  Runyon says there is a belief a state gas tax increase of around four cents a gallon is coming, but an Oregon Association of Surveyors and Engineers proposal of how to divide up that increase was of interest in particular to smaller counties.  It would divide one-third of it equally among all counties regardless of size, one-third based on motor vehicle registrations, and the rest based on mileage.  Runyon says under that plan with a four-cent gas tax increase, Wasco County could realize $500,000 to $600,000 in additional revenue.  The current gas tax is divided by motor vehicle registration numbers, and that won’t change.

The Dalles City Council, acting in its capacity as the Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Board, voted to recommend a nine-month extension for Rapoza Development to purchase the Recreation Building and the Blue Building in the Granada Block for a hotel development, but placed more financial requirements on the extension than what was recommended by its advisory committee.  The extension plan that was approved by a 4-2 vote was put forward by Councilor Dan Spatz, and was based on an original agreement developed by a working committee he was a part of.  It calls for Rapoza to pay a $10,000 non-refundable deposit upon signing the agreement and another $40,000 by December 31, for the company to pick up carrying costs, and submit a hotel franchise application by April 30, with $40,000 of the $50,000 deposit going toward the franchise fee and the fees surrounding term sheets to generate capital through the federal EB-5 program.  The advisory committee had put forward a recommendation that required Rapoza to only provide a $10,000 deposit, but that was defeated by the board on 4-2 vote with only Bill Dick and Carolyn Wood supporting.  The extension includes a direction to staff to prepare a request for proposal for the property should Rapoza not be able to meet the timelines.  Tim McGlothlin joined Spatz, Dick, and Wood in approving the extension, while Linda Miller and Mayor Steve Lawrence voted against both proposals.