Mt. Hood National Forest officials say they will develop options for retrieving a plane that crashed into Mt. Hood near Elliot Glacier in the spring.  In a written statement, forest officials say risks to personnel outweigh the benefits for recovery of the aircraft during winter weather.  The downed plane is on extremely steep and snow-covered terrain in the Mt. Hood Wilderness, which complicates any removal operation.  The Forest, which has been working with the National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, and the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office in the aftermath of the crash, plans to form a team in the spring to assess the situation and develop options to retrieve the aircraft.

Oregon highway managers are expecting troublesome driving conditions to remain across northern state highways for the next 3 to 4 days.  Interstate 84 through the Columbia Gorge remains a primary focus of snow and ice removal efforts with the additional concern about heavy rainfall in the western Gorge.  Various locations along the highway are experiencing heavy winds as well.  Weather conditions across the northern tier of highways remain unstable with temperatures hovering at just above or just below freezing.  Motorists can expect to find a patchwork of conditions due to varying temperatures within short proximity, with associated snow, ice and possibly freezing rain found adjacent to nearly bare highway surfaces.  East of the gorge expect heavy snow in mountain passes and high winds in some areas.  Motorists should be prepared to install chains when required and plan extra travel time. ODOT snow removal teams are on a 24-7 work status with extra crews being deployed to Interstate 84 as necessary.  Heavy trucks are not permitted to use Washington Highway 14 when weather conditions close Interstate 84 in Oregon.

The Dalles Public Works Department wants to make the most of a break in recent winter weather to clear snow and ice from downtown area streets.  Crews will clear 2^nd Street, 3^rd Street, and 4^th Street from Pentland Street to the roundabout at Brewery Grade, along with intersecting side streets and the bottom of Brewery Grade as time allows.  Crews will begin concentrating efforts this evening at 9 p.m. and work is expected to be complete by tomorrow at 6 a.m.  Business owners in the downtown area only are requested to shovel snow from sidewalks into the street by 9 p.m. this evening because there is no private property available for snow piles.  Remove all vehicles from 2^nd Street, 3^rd Street, and 4^th Street from Pentland to the roundabout by 9 p.m. so that snow and ice can be removed curb to curb.  You may park vehicles on adjacent side streets.

Wasco County has received its first clean financial audit in some time.  County Commissioner Scott Hege says some issues in the Treasurer’s office a number of years ago led to reconciliation issues.  Hege noted most of the things they were dealt with were along the lines of timeliness rather than financial problems, and county staff had worked hard to address them.  Hege adds things that happen in the finances are carried with you for quite awhile.

Washington 14th District State Representative Chris Corry has introduced a bill attempting to help reform the foster system in the state that doesn’t do more harm to the children under that care.  Corry, who is a foster parent, says the goal is to focus on what’s best for the kids.  The bill address the relative searches the Department of Children, Youth, and Family does that Corry believes are taking longer than they should.  The bill is currently in committee.

A truck accident on Interstate 84 between Cascade Locks and Hood River this morning led to approximately 2,500 gallons of diesel being leaked onto the highway.  According to the Oregon State Police, a preliminary investigation shows a Space Age semi-tractor pulling two tanker trucks was eastbound on I-84 near milepost 54.  The OSP says the driver, 34-year-old James Altman of Portland, was driving too fast for the snowy conditions on the roadway at about 10:30 Monday morning.   Altman lost control of the commercial motor vehicle and the tankers flipped onto their sides.  When the tankers flipped they started leaking onto the diesel onto the highway.   The diesel eventually seeped underneath the barrier onto the westbound lanes of travel.  Two tanks completely spilled their diesel.  Space Age has contracted a company to clean-up the spill and tows are on scene.  The Oregon Department of Transportation and the Oregon Emergency Response System were notified and were going to the scene to assist.

Hood River County Commissioners have scheduled a public information meeting on Thursday, February 21 to discuss the County’s plans to put a pair of tax measures.  The Commission is planning to place both a five percent prepared food and beverage tax and five-year property tax levy at 89 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value.  County Administrator Jeff Hecksel says they will use the same drop-in format they used for a pair of meetings earlier in the process.  The meeting will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on February 21 at the Hood River Valley High School commons.

This is the final week apply for one of the Gorgeworks paid summer internships available at businesses in the Gorge.  Andrea Klaas of the Port of The Dalles says applications must be submitted by Friday.  She notes they have a variety of different positions available, but applicants don’t sign up for a specific company.  Applications can be filled out on-line at gorgeworks.com.

It’s going to be a snow-filled weekend in the Gorge.  The National Weather Service has winter storm warning in effect from 6 p.m. Friday evening to 7 p.m. Saturday evening for Hood River, the Central Gorge, and the Upper Hood River Valley, from 6 p.m. Friday to 1 p.m. Saturday for Cascade Locks and the Western Gorge, and 7 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Sunday for The Dalles and the Eastern Gorge.  Forecasts call for six to ten inches of snow in the Hood River area over Friday night into Saturday, and two to six inches of snow in The Dalles area, with temperatures in the 20’s through Saturday and getting down into the teens Saturday night, plus strong east winds Saturday afternoon and night.  And after a break in the snow Sunday, another storm is forecast to reach the region Sunday night that could bring another six to 12 inches of snow to the Hood River area, and a third strong winter storm is now being projected to arrive Monday night.

As a major winter storm prepares to arrive in the region, the Natural Resources Conservation Service February Water Supply Outlook shows most of Western Oregon has a snowpack ranging from 50 to 70 percent of normal.  The Hood, Sandy, and Lower Deschutes basin snowpack was at 51 percent of normal as of mid-week, the lowest figure in the state.  The basins were also the driest in the state for January precipitation at 53 percent of average.  Elsewhere January precipitation was 70 to 80 percent of average.  Eastern Oregon is faring much better, with snowpack at 80 to 100 percent of normal for this time of year.