The City of Hood River has narrowed the area a boil water advisory has been issued as a precaution in the wake of last night’s water main leak to downtown Hood River from Sherman to Columbia avenues east of 9th Street.  City Public Information Officer Don Cheli says originally the advisory was for the entire City, they have now narrowed down the area impacted.  He adds state regulations require after this kind of leak water samples be submitted for testing for harmful bacteria and a boil order put in place until the results come back in 24 to 48 hours.  Water users in the core area from Sherman to Columbia avenues east of 9th Street or those who experienced a loss of water pressure or discovered an excessive amount of air in water lines to follow the boil advisory, bringing water to a rolling boil for one full minute, then allow it to cool before using or storing.  Cheli says the leak occurred on 3rd Street near Cascade Avenue near the Union Building.  No cause has been determined.

Basketball games in the Trout Lake and Glenwood school districts are cancelled.

Mid-Columbia Senior Center Saturday night bingo is cancelled.

The White Salmon City Council has instituted a six-month moratorium on development in residential zoning areas to address what is being termed as “inconsistencies” between city codes and the current comprehensive plan as they relate to attainable housing, but with a number of exemptions.  Most notable in the exemptions is the development of single-family residences.  New Mayor Marla Keethler brought the issue to the Council, saying White Salmon’s existing code failed to ever align with housing goals established in 2012.  Specific focus during the moratorium will be given to zoning review and amendments, taking input on actions the council is considering regarding funding, encouraging, and implementing affordable housing development, determining affordable housing thresholds as they relate to development in the form of accessory development units, townhomes, duplexes, and multi-family residences, and ways to stop the continuing decline of mobile home residences in the designated zones.  The White Salmon City Council will hold a public hearing on the moratorium on February 5 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council chambers in the White Salmon Fire Hall.

Ballots will be going out next week for the White Salmon Valley School District’s three-year enhancement levy, which covers parts of the district’s budget not within what the state funds under its definition of “basic education.”  District Superintendent Jerry Lewis says this replaces what used to be known as the maintenance and operations levy, which expires in the district this year. If approved, the levy in year one would be $2.22 per $1,000 of assessed property value, year two would be $2.19, and then $2.16 in year three.  Lewis says they were able to sell their bonds at a very good rate.  Stevenson-Carson, Wishram, Glenwood, Centerville, and Goldendale school districts area also seeking enhancement levies.

The Dalles Dam Visitors Center hosts the tenth annual Eagle Watch on Saturday.  Visitors can watch bald eagles roost in their natural habitat along the Columbia River.  During Eagle Watch on Saturday the visitor center will be open for live raptor presentations provided by the U.S. Forest Service, the Discovery Center, and Rowena Wildlife Clinic.  Visitors are welcome and encouraged to bring their own scopes and binoculars, and there will be a limited number available for use.  This event is free and accessible to those with disabilities.  Eagle Watch will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.  The Dalles Dam Visitor Center is located off exit 87 of I-84, traveling east on Bret Clodfelter Way.

Hood River Rotary Ski Night at Mt. Hood Meadows is this coming Monday.  The annual event raises money for the club’s local student scholarships.  There will also be entertainment and activities for non-skiers.  The Rotary Ski Night will be from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday.  Tickets are $20 online at skihood.com or $25 on the day of the event.

The Port of Hood River is getting ready to do a public survey on their strategic business plan through 2026.  Port Commissioners at their meeting this week review the survey and made suggestions for revisions that will be incorporated into the final product.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says they are aiming to get it out to the public within a couple of weeks through a number of channels, including their upcoming newsletter and online.  The Port plans to wrap up development of the strategic plan in June.

North Wasco County School District 21 has submitted a long-range facilities plan to the Oregon Department of Education in the aftermath of a final community meeting on the subject Tuesday evening.  The 15-year plan will make the district eligible for state matching funds when the district is able to move forward with school replacements, with The Dalles High School at the top of the priority list.  D-21 Superintendent Candy Armstrong says the next step for the district board is to go further in the planning process with a group to take the plan and go deeper with it.  At the same time, Armstrong will be sharing the plan with other taxing entities in The Dalles.  The plan puts the price tag on replacing The Dalles High School at just under $100 million, Colonel Wright Elementary at $23.87 million, and Chenowith Elementary at $39.45 million.

Public comments are now being sought on the draft plan for infrastructure modernization for the East Fork Irrigation District.  The Natural Resources Conservation Service has released its draft watershed plan-environmental assessment for the project.  Margi Hoffman of Farmers Conservation Alliance, which is one of the partners on the project, says the goal is to make the East Fork irrigation system more efficient by converting open-ditch irrigation canals into underground, closed-pipe systems.  The draft plan is available for review at oregonwatershedplans.org.  A public meeting is planned for January 29 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Pine Grove Grange on 2835 Van Horn Drive in Hood River.

Boys Basketball

The Dalles 66, Goldendale 48

Hood River Valley at Banks, ppd. to Wednesday

South Wasco at Horizon Christian, ppd. to Wednesday

Riverside at Lyle-Wishram, ccld.

 

Girls Basketball

The Dalles 32, Goldendale 31

Stevenson 75, Castle Rock 30

Trout Lake 53, Columbia Adventist 44

LaCenter at Columbia, ppd. to Monday

Riverside at Lyle-Wishram, ccld.