Two members of the Oregon State Senate who represent the Mid-Columbia will be part of the Senate Republicans’ leadership team during the upcoming legislative session.  26th District Senator Chuck Thomsen and Cliff Bentz of the 30th District will serve as Republican Deputy Leaders, joining Alan Olsen of Canby.  Herman Baertschiger of Grants Pass was elected Senate Minority Leader.  Dennis Lithicum of Klamath Falls continues in his position as Senate Republican Whip.

The Hood River County Health Department is reminding people to get their flu shots.  The department’s Ian Stromquist says this is the time of year when reports of the flu go up, so the time is now to get immunized if you haven’t already.  The Hood River County Health Department has flu vaccine available, and is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1109 June Street.  Flu shots are also available from health care providers and pharmacies.

The Columbia Gorge Community College Board of Education is seeking people interested in serving on the school’s budget committee.  The board is looking for Hood River and Wasco County residents who would like to be considered for a three-year term on the budget panel.  Those interested should send a letter of interest with qualifications, telephone, and address to the Board of Education, Columbia Gorge Community College, 400 East Scenic Dr., The Dalles OR 97058.  Deadline for consideration is January 8.

Boys Basketball Hillsboro 31, The Dalles 30 Corbett 70, Columbia 40 Horizon Christian 55, Echo 26 Trinity Lutheran 49, Sherman 47 Lyle-Wishram 94, Klickitat-Glenwood 43   Girls Basketball The Dalles 76, Trout Lake 31 Tenino 61, Stevenson 42 Klickitat-Glenwood 51, Lyle-Wishram 44

Glenwood School District on two-hour delay, no pre-school.

About 60 people, more than half estimated to be from Washington, attended a community meeting on replacement of the Hood River/White Salmon Interstate Bridge.  It was the first public meeting during what will be a two-and-a-half year process to develop an environmental impact statement.  Port of Hood River Bridge Replacement Project Director Kevin Greenwood said he talked to 15 to 20 attendees, and all were in favor or a replacement, but there were also some concerns around tolling and the impact on low income residents, and bridge design.  He says all of the input will go to their consultants so they can look for alternatives and solutions.  Greenwood noted there will be working group meetings once a quarter to discuss the bridge project, and they will be open to the public.

The Dalles City Council approved an increase in rates for The Dalles Disposal for 2019.  Rates will go up 3.3%, mirroring the increase in tipping fee costs at the Wasco County Landfill.  Jim Winterbottom of Waste Connections, which owns both The Dalles Disposal and the landfill, noted the tipping fee increase is based on 85 percent of the consumer price index for the West Coast as called for in their contract with the County.  He said the cost increase for a residential customer with a 32 gallon can would be 13 cents per pick up, while for a larger roll cart the jump is 20 cents per pick up.

As the City of Hood River contemplates its options after the State Court of Appeals remanded its decision to rezone the Morrison Park property for an affordable housing project, Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation continue to work on community engagement efforts around the proposed development.  Executive Director Joel Madsen says they plan another community meeting on the subject next week, noting the organization will take up the City’s decisions as they are made.  Madsen said organization leadership doesn’t want to just put the project aside, and it’s still worth looking at.  The next community meeting on the proposed development will be next Wednesday (December 19) at 5:30 p.m. at the Waucoma Center in Hood River.

Wasco County Commissioners will hold a worksession Wednesday morning on doing revisions to its community planning assistance for wildfires.  The work becomes all the more timely in the wake of a difficult summer fire season.  Commission Chair Steve Kramer hopes the interface between the different agencies involved in fire protection will be at the forefront of this effort.  The worksession will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the Deschutes Room of the Wasco County Courthouse.

Boys Basketball Goldendale 60, Columbia 58   Girls Basketball Goldendale 50, Columbia 16