Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek has introduced a bill calling for the state to keep roughly half of the estimated one-point-four billion dollar “kicker” refund to use on a set of transportation issues, but at least one Senator says it has no traction to advance.  29th District Senator Bill Hansell feels there is no way it can get through, as it would take a constitutional amendment that requires two-thirds support in both the House and Senate.  Under Oregon’s Constitution, the unique kicker tax rebate is triggered when tax revenues for the two-year budget cycle come in more than two percent above economists’ forecast from the start of the cycle.

The Hood River County Chamber of Commerce and Chief Executive Officer Mike Glover have parted ways.  In a written statement issued Thursday night, the Chamber Board announced Glover was no longer employed by the organization.  The Chamber called this a “leadership transition” and did not elaborate on the reasons for the split.  Glover joined the Hood River Chamber in the CEO position in 2013.  The Chamber says current staff members Ashley Huckaby May and Kate Schroder will serve as interim leaders for the organization.

East 19th Street from Dry Hollow Road to one-thousand feet west will be closed to all traffic in both directions during working hours from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting on Monday and continuing through May 30.  Motorists, bicycles and pedestrians are asked to use detours around the work zone during work hours.  The street will be reopened to the traveling public each evening.  Local access will be provided by prearrangement only to properties adjacent to the work zone.  The purpose of this project is to rebuild the failed roadway.  This street work is expected to restore the pavement structure and provide safer pedestrian passage.

Track and Field

Stevenson won the boys’ title at the Southwest Washington Class 1A District Meet at Woodland.  The Bulldogs’ Lincoln Krog led the way with first place finishes in four events:  the 100 meters, high jump, long jump, and triple jump, while Ethan Haight won the 800 meters.  Columbia was fifth, receiving victories from Stanley Hylton in the javelin and the four by 400 meter relay team.  Stevenson was third in the girls’ standings while CHS was fifth.  The Bruins’ Hannah Polkinghorn won both the 100 and 200 meters, while Stevenson had three first place finishes:  Isabella  Spencer in the 3200 meters, Sara Campbell in the pole vault, and Cassie Macnab in the triple jump.

Trout Lake’s girls finished first and the boys second in the Washington Class 1B District 5/6 Meet at Moses Lake.  Trout Lake’s Liz Fink and Isabella Dean each won two events for the Mustang girls, while Glenwood’s Brooklyn Emerson also won a pair of events.  Justin Peck won two events for the Trout Lake boys.

Softball

The Dalles 4, Mac-Hi 3:  Bailey LeBreton’s base hit in the bottom of the seventh inning drove in the winning run as the Riverhawks finished the season with a win.  Kilee Hoylman led off the inning with a double, and LeBreton’s one-out single brought her home.  The Dalles finishes the year with a 14-10 record.

Westview 10, Hood River Valley 0:  The Eagles lost to Wildcats in a tune-up game for next week’s state playoffs.

Baseball Summit at Hood River Valley rained out

The Port of Hood River announced Thursday repair work on the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge was completed a week ahead of schedule, and the remaining nighttime closures of the bridge have been cancelled.  Contract crews from Abhe & Svoboda completed all repairs to the bridge portal frame, rail post replacement, hand rail pipe replacement, rocker bearing modifications, stringer connection modifications, floorbeam knee brace repairs, bottom chord slice repairs, and other miscellaneous steel repairs, with final punch list items completed on Wednesday night.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee expressed thanks to all for their patience and cooperation during the project, acknowledging the closures created long detours and serious delays for many commuters, shippers, and businesses that rely on the bridge.  He added the nighttime closures enabled them to avoid months of daytime closures extending into summer and the fruit harvest season.

Wasco County Commissioners approved the ordinances necessary to begin providing building codes services on July 1.  Fee schedules and regulations were all approved as part of the ordinances.  The County decided to take on the building codes program when the state informed them they would not have a local office in The Dalles if they had to reclaim the program in the wake of the dissolution of the Mid-Columbia Council of Governments.

The Central Gorge Master Gardeners will celebrate the tenth anniversary of its Japanese Heritage Garden on Friday.  The Gardeners’ Margo Dameier says they will have a program commemorating the establishment of the Japanese garden and the heritage that inspired it.  The program will culminate with a performance by Portland Taiko.  The celebration begins at 3 p.m. Friday at the Japanese Heritage Garden between the OSU Extension office and the Mid-Columbia Agriculture Research and Experiment Station on 2990 Experiment Station Drive in Hood River.

This year’s Wasco County Children’s Fair will be Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Dalles City Park.  Child Care Partners, with the support of the Wasco County Early Childhood Committee, puts on the Children’s Fair, which focuses on connecting families with local organizations while encouraging parent-child interactions through family-friendly, enjoyable activities.  About 30 to 40 local organizations take part each year.  All activities are free, and some organizations give out prizes, goodies, or an additional activity to take home.  There will be food available at a low cost for families.  Families are welcome to bring a picnic lunch if they wish. 

Oregon High School Girls Lacrosse Association Playoffs

First Round

Hood River Valley 10, Summit 9:  The Eagles win on the road in central Oregon and will go to Oregon Episcopal for a quarterfinal match on Friday.

Boys Golf

Goldendale’s Luke Gerchak advanced to the Washington Class 1A tournament with a second place finish at the SCAC district tournament at Suncadia.  Gerchak shot an 83, finishing five shots back of medalist Conner Bolton of Zillah.  The state tournament will be Tuesday and Wednesday at Olympia Country and Golf Club.

Klickitat County has established an outdoor burn ban in its Burn Ban Zone Two in the central section of the county to begin June 1 and continue through September 30.  Zone Two includes lands outside the jurisdiction of the Yakama Nation and Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, and runs from the eastern boundary of Klickitat County Fire District #7 to the western boundaries of districts 4, 12, 1nd 15 then north on the Klickitat River north to the north county line.  The ban will prohibit the issuance of burning permits except for authorized agricultural burning.  Residential barbecues will be allowed.  Klickitat County Burn Ban Zone One in the eastern end of the county went into effect on Wednesday, and will also continue through September 30.