The Port of Hood River Commission will hold its fall planning session on Tuesday.  A number of topics will be discussed, including the phase of planning for a new Interstate Bridge that will come after the draft EIS process, the next opportunities for development of properties in the waterfront area and at the Lower Mill site, and what the Port would look like as an agency after a new bridge is constructed.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says no matter how a new bridge comes about and who manages it, the Port will face change.  The planning session will start at noon Tuesday at the Port’s Marina Center conference room.

A ban on outdoor burning and the use of uncertified stoves and fireplaces is currently in place in Klickitat County.  The Washington Department of Ecology put the ban in place because stagnant conditions are predicted to return in these counties after a brief break, putting the communities at risk for unhealthy levels of air pollution.  In the first half of last week monitors showed elevated levels of air pollutants.  Fine particles from wood smoke can easily get into people’s lungs causing heart and breathing problems.  Under a Stage 1 ban, all outdoor burning is prohibited including residential, agricultural and forest burning.  Use of uncertified wood stoves, fireplaces, inserts, and other uncertified wood-burning devices are prohibited unless they are a home’s only adequate source of heat.  Cleaner burning certified wood stoves, pellet stoves and other certified wood-burning devices are allowed.  Up-to-date burn ban information is available at www.waburnbans.net.

Oregon Class 1A Football Semi-Final Dufur 46, Hosanna Christian 0:  The Rangers limited Hosanna Christian to just 63 yards of total offense, and scored four second quarter touchdowns to keep their bid for a fourth straight state title alive.  Tanner Masterson ran for 183 yards and four touchdowns while also catching a TD pass, while Asa Farrell ran for 121 yards and a score.  Dufur will play St. Paul in the championship game on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Hillsboro Stadium.   Washington Class 1B Football Quarter-Final Naselle 68, Lyle-Wishram 38   Cross Country Hood River Valley’s Frances Dickinson finished 13^th in the girls’ version of the Nike Borderclash in Beaverton, which featured 80 of the top high school runners in Oregon and Washington.  HRV’s Brinna Weiseth was 25^th, Josephine Dickinson 39^th, and Evelyn Nunez 48^th.

A 66-year-old Vancouver man is dead following a motor vehicle accident late Sunday morning on Highway 14 in western Skamania County.  According to the Washington State Patrol, the motorhome driven by Kenneth Karschney was eastbound on Highway 14 about seven miles east of Washougal when he lost control and left the roadway to the right.  The motorhome when down a small embankment, struck a tree, and then caught fire, fully engulfing the vehicle.  Emergency personnel arrived on the scene shortly after the accident and contained the fire, but Karschney was pronounced dead at the scene.  The accident remains under investigation.

About 75 people attended as the North Wasco County School District 21 board held a “listening session” in the wake of the defeat of D-21’s proposed bond measure to replace school buildings across the district.  Comments from the audience went across the board, came from people who voted both for and against the measure, and touched on themes ranging from voters not having enough information, questioning whether the district could manage construction costs, and taxes being too high in The Dalles as it is, to a recognition D-21 needs to replace many of its facilities.  District Superintendent Candy Armstrong says they will continue to collect data, and they will get more once the election results are certified.  Armstrong added a large number of people in attendance did not speak, but they did receive some written comments.

The Hood River County School District is about to send out letters in regard to beginning the process of adjusting elementary and middle school boundaries.  Superintendent Dan Goldman says with the new May Street Elementary coming online next year with more capacity and Westside Elementary over capacity, and Hood River Middle School full and Wy’east Middle School having space available, it’s time to begin the process.  Goldman says they are currently collection all the possible data to use to project future enrollment, and once that is done a committee made up of school principals, community members, and district representatives will meet to develop a recommendation.  Goldman adds a number of open houses will be scheduled to get public input.

The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office and Crime Stoppers of Oregon are asking for the public’s help to find a Hood River woman who has been missing since 2004.  Kimberly Ann Forbes was last seen on October 30, 2004, at her residence in the 1600 block of Jeanette Road in Hood River.  About three weeks later her vehicle was found abandoned in the parking lot of a Gresham restaurant.  Forbes was described to police as a reliable, punctual person who would be unlikely to leave without warning, and was not believed to be in any kind of crisis.  Forbes is a white female and, at the time of her disappearance was 48-year-old and described as 5’8″ to 5’9″ tall, weighing 200 pounds, with graying brown hair, blue eyes, and pierced ears.  Investigators have no leads in this case and are asking for the public’s help.  Crime Stoppers of Oregon offers cash rewards of up to $2,500 cash for information, reported to Crime Stoppers, that leads to an arrest in any unsolved felony crime and tipsters can remain anonymous.  To submit an anonymous tip by a mobile device, visit the App Store and download P3 Tips to submit secure and anonymous tips, or call 503-823-HELP (4357).

The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest are hosting one more firewood cutting event this weekend at Tracy Hill northeast of Bingen.  Valid permit-holders can pick up cords of firewood or cut their own.  The firewood is available due to fuel management activities the Forest Service conducted in the area, and includes seasoned Douglas-fir in a range of sizes.  Gates to the site will be open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Valid Gifford Pinchot National Forest Firewood Permits can be purchased onsite Friday and Saturday.  They are also available at the Mt. Adams Ranger Station in Trout Lake, Wind River Market in Carson, Main Street Convenience Store in Stevenson, and the Home Valley Store.  Permits costs $20 for four cords and $30 for six cords.  

The latest findings from Cascades Pika Watch — a collaboration of organizations and individual pika researchers convened by the Oregon Zoo — show the pint-sized mammals are alive and well in the wake of the Eagle Creek Fire.  The fire burned through much of the pika habitat on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge. This summer Cascades Pika Watch set out to see how pikas were faring in the areas most affected by the fire and detected pikas at 18 sites out of 45 surveyed — an expected decrease from previous years, but still promising.  American pikas are small mammals related to rabbits, known for their distinctive high-pitched calls.  They’re often found in rugged high-elevation mountain habitats, so pikas in the Gorge are of particular interest because they live at a much lower elevation than any other pika population in the United States.

The North Wasco County School District 21 board will hold a community listening session during its meeting Thursday evening.  The meeting comes in the wake of last week’s defeat at the ballot box of the district’s bond measure to construct new facilities over a 20 year period to replace their aging buildings.  In a statement on the meeting agenda, the board states its goal “is to listen deeply to as many people as possible.”  Each person will be asked to sign a roster and will be given 3-5 minutes to speak depending on the number of participants.  The board will also welcome written input from anyone.  Thursday evening’s meeting begins at 6 p.m. in The Dalles Middle School commons.