Boys Soccer Hood River Valley 8, Pendleton 0:  The Eagles clinch the Intermountain Conference championship with the win. The Dalles 2, Redmond 1:  The Riverhawks nailed down a berth in the state Class 5A playoffs with the victory over the Panthers. Damascus Christian 6, Horizon Christian 1 Grand View Christian 8, Trout Lake 0   Girls Soccer Redmond 2, The Dalles 0 Pendleton 3, Hood River Valley 0 Montesano 6, Columbia 1 Grandview 7, Goldendale 2   Volleyball Montesano def. Columbia 3-0 Onalaska def. Stevenson 25-15, 25-15, 25-23 Goldendale def. Granger 25-15, 25-13, 25-7  

The Dalles City Council on Monday evening approved a Strategic Improvement Plan agreement with Google and Wasco County for development of a portion of the former aluminum plant site the company purchased, but there are still other steps remaining for the project to move forward.  Most notably, the Council will consider an agreement for water use and infrastructure at the panel’s November 8 meeting.  Mayor Rich Mays says he has heard concerns from some residents about water needs for the data center, but says improvements by Google will result in an increase in the City’s water capacity.  The agreement also calls for Google to transfer water rights they received in the aluminum plant property purchase to the City, and data center water will be treated post-cooling.

The City of White Salmon has entered into a real estate agreement for the purchase of the “Walker House” at 245 W. Jewett Blvd.   The city says it would like to purchase the home in order to preserve the historic significance of the structure to the city’s history, and to also create a gathering place for the community.  The real estate agreement provides a 150-day due diligence period.  The City will be conducting inspections of the property including structural and electrical, conducting an appraisal, and determining how the purchase can be financed.  The White Salmon City Council will hold a public comment period on the proposed purchase during its November 3 meeting, which will begin at 6 p.m.  Information on how to take part in the online meeting is at white-salmon.net.

The Dalles City Council approved a Strategic Improvement Plan agreement with Google and Wasco County for development of a portion of the former aluminum plant site the company purchased.  The agreement actually covers two data center projects to be developed in the next 25 years, with a 15-year tax abatement for each.  There would be a one-time $3 million payment to the County and City for each project, a prescribed Community Service Fee, and a guaranteed annual payment for 15 years based on 50 percent of property tax due for the first project, and 60 percent for the second.  Councilors were unanimous in approving the agreement, with Councilor Dan Richardson saying he sympathizes with community members skeptical of the agreement, but noting the reality is that cities and states compete for business, and this deal comes with modest costs and large gains.  Next up for the Council will be to consider an infrastructure agreement between the City and Google, and that will take place on November 8.  

The Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District board will hold a meeting on November 4 to go over a proposal to place two measures on the ballot in the May 2022 primary election that would dissolve the current district and then re-form it with a new property tax rate.  District director Mark Hickox told the Hood River City Council that passage of Measure 50 in Oregon in 1998 fixed their tax rate.  He added with the Hood River Aquatic Center pool reaching the end of its lifespan, surveys of the public showing demand for an expanded community center and more trails, and the need for more funding for parks operations, the district needs more financial options.  Both the dissolve and re-form measures would have to pass for either to take effect.  Hickox told the Council they would need a resolution from the City to put the measures on the ballot, and the district plans to bring one forward on November 8.

Hood River City Councilors approved a resolution to establish a Parks Capital Improvement Plan.  The Council had identified creating such a plan in their work plan for 2021, something the City already has for water, sewer, stormwater, and roads.  Interim City Manager Will Norris says establishing the plan has two objectives:  insuring everyone has a safe place to recreate, and involving the community in both fundraising and volunteering time and energy.  Norris added the plan calls for grant dollars to be leveraged to the maximum extent possible.  Councilors approved the resolution unanimously.

Grass Valley, Maupin, Fossil, and Condon will receive $100,000 each for street repair projects in the Oregon Department of Transportation’s latest round of the Small City Allotment program established in 2017.  A total of $5.1 million was disbursed by the program this year.  Recipient cities must have less than 5,000 population and project selection includes on-site visits.  To include as many cities as possible, no matching funds are required.  In Maupin, the money will be used for rebuilding roads to match existing curb lines while paving the full width of road, including shoulders.

Volunteers are being sought to serve on the Columbia River Gorge Response Team of the Trauma Intervention Program.  Program volunteers are called by law enforcement and other emergency personnel to various locations to provide immediate emotional and practical support to families, friends, witnesses, and victims of traumatic incidents.  Trauma Intervention Programs Community Relations Director Dennis Toomey says trainings are planned in November, and explains volunteers help victims not feel like they are alone, providing comfort, protection, and a feeling of safety.  To learn more about the trainings and the program, go to tipnw.org or call 503-823-3937.

With state approval of booster doses for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, North Central Public Health District says it is ready to vaccinate large numbers of people in the coming weeks and months.  NCPHD has reopened its vaccination clinics at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center, and eight clinics are planned through mid-December, starting this Thursday from noon to 6 p.m.  People can book their own appointment by visiting.ncphd.org/book-vaccine or calling the health district at 541-506-2600, or Mid-Columbia Senior Center at 541-296-4788.   Those who are eligible for the Moderna booster include people 65 and older, anyone 18 and older living in a long-term care facility, those 18 and older with underlying medical conditions or increased risk of social inequalities, and anyone age 18 to 49 at risk for COVID because of occupational or institutional setting.  Moderna boosters are available six months after their second dose.  Johnson and Johnson booster doses are available to anyone who has received that vaccine, and can be given two months after the vaccine.  

The Dalles Public Works is asking people to help pick up leaves promptly so they do not block the storm water catch basins and before they freeze onto the streets.  Citizens are being asked to park off the street during street sweeper work hours of 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Do not rake leaves from your yard into the street.   Compost leaves at home or put them in your yard debris container for pick-up.  You can also put them in compostable paper bags and take them to The Dalles Transfer Station.  Also, Remove large sticks or branches from the roadway so they don’t jam the sweeper, and clear storm drains in front of your house to prevent flooding during a rainstorm.  The Dalles Transfer Station, located at 1317 West First Street, will accept yard debris at no charge from The Dalles residential customers only beginning on November 1.