Updated vote counts In Klickitat County on Thursday saw County Commission position two incumbent David Sauter with 4,573 votes to 1,778 for Raymond Clough, while Sheriff Bob Songer has 4,545 votes to challenger Douglas Charters’ 2,147.  The White Salmon Valley Pool Metropolitan District measure had received 1,608 votes in favor to 1,143 against.  In races for positions on the district board…Lloyd DeKay had 1,212 votes to 630 for Mikael Naramore…Benjamin Briggs had a narrow 963-to-923 lead over Pam Morneault…Troy Witherrite led Michael Oldfather 1,446 to 470…and Karen Skiles had received 1,363 votes to 552 for Jan Brending.  Husum Fire District’s bond measure was being approved 1,111-to-459, and the County Emergency Medical Services District levy was passing 4,959 to 1,654.  Another vote count is to be released late Friday afternoon.

Skamania County wrapped up its final count update until ballots are certified later in the month.  Gabriel Spencer won the election for assessor 3,223 to 1,952 over Tom Dillon, while Adam Kick was successful in his bid to be re-elected as Prosecuting Attorney with 3,033 votes to 2,339 over Dan McGill.  Dan Boyes won the PUD District Commissioner race 2,809 to 2,086 over Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.  The Underwood Parks and Recreation District levy measure had received 306 votes in favor to 175 against, while the Home Valley Water District levy had received 108 votes in favor and 67 against, as both measures had over 60 percent approval rates.

The Hood River Warming Shelter will open for the winter season on Sunday, November 18 at Riverside Community Church.  The shelter will be open from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. each day to provide a safe place for those who do not have anywhere to go.  Hood River Warming Services Executive Director Sarah Kellums says they host people from all sorts of backgrounds.  Volunteers are being sought to help run the shelter.  For more information go to hoodrivercares.org.

The annual Veterans’ Day parade in The Dalles will take place Monday morning.  It will start at 11 a.m. on Monday at Sixth and Webber, and take the usual route around the downtown area.  Grand marshals will be Lynn Guenther, Ada Wyn Parker, and Roderick Francis Martin.  Two F-15 fighter jets from the Oregon Air National Guard’s 173rd Fighter Wing out of Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls.  Following the parade, there will be a potluck at the Oregon Veterans’ Home. Chicken and side dishes will be provided, along with beverages.  Community members are invited to bring a favorite dish to share.

The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center will host its annual Columbia River Indian Autumn Gathering on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The Center’s Eloise Russell says neighbors are invited to celebrate the bounty of the Columbia Gorge.  There will be demonstrations of flint knapping, basket making techniques, and traditional games, and a display of gathered foods and medicinal botanicals.  There will be twenty traditional handcraft vendors, presentations, and there will be a salmon lunch available for $15.  Admission is free.

North Wasco County School District 21 board chair Kathy Ursprung expressed disappointment with the outcome of the district’s proposed 20-year bond measure to rebuild four schools during that time period.  Ursprung says the next step will be to look at different alternatives, and take some time to analyze this election before making any decision.  She says the need for new facilities is still there.  The bond measure was rejected by 59 percent of voters.  Ursprung says one of their post-election tasks is to find out why people voted no, adding she hopes more people will be involved planning their next options.

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

The U.S. Forest Service will waive fees at day-use recreation sites in Oregon and Washington on Saturday and Sunday in honor of Veterans Day.  This fee waiver includes many picnic areas, boat launches, trailheads, and visitor centers.  Concession operations will continue to charge fees unless the permit holder wishes to participate.  Fees for camping, cabin rentals, heritage expeditions, or other permits still apply.  The Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region manages more than 2,400 developed recreation sites, over 24,000 miles of trails, 51 Wild and Scenic Rivers, and two national monuments.  No fees are charged at any time on 98 percent of national forests and grasslands, and approximately two-thirds of developed recreation sites in national forests and grasslands can be used for free.

The Klickitat County Community Wildfire Protection Plan has been completed in draft form and is available for public review.  Electronic copies are available at the Emergency Management page of the Klickitat County website, and they also are available at the Goldendale Community Library and the County Commission office in Goldendale.  The Community Wildfire Protection Plan identifies high risk areas and recommends specific projects to help lessen the danger from wildfires.  The public review phase of the planning process will be open through November 23.

Republican incumbent Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler has won re-election in southwest Washington.  Herrera Beutler defeated Democrat Carolyn Long, a political science professor at Washington State University’s campus in Vancouver.  Herrera Beutler was first elected to the 3rd Congressional District in 2010 and will serve her fifth term in Congress. She had faced a tough race against Long after the August primary, where she captured 42 percent of the vote on a crowded ballot of seven total candidates.   In Washington State House District 14 there was almost no significant change after Wednesday’s tabulations with the two Republicans winning election.  Chris Corry had received just under 61 percent of the vote for position one over Democratic challenger Sasha Bentley.  And incumbent Gina Mosbrucker is retaining her position two seat, receiving just under 64 percent to hold off challenger Liz Hallock.   Updated vote counts In Klickitat County on Wednesday left County Commission position two incumbent David Sauter with 3,357 votes to 1,222 for Raymond Clough, while Sheriff Bob Songer has 3,363 votes to challenger Douglas Charters’ 1,447.  The White Salmon Valley Pool Metropolitan District measure had received 929 votes in favor to 714 against.  In races for positions on the district board, Lloyd DeKay had 721 votes to 363 for Mikael Naramore, Benjamin Briggs had a narrow 571-to-536 lead over Pam Morneault, Troy Witherrite led Michael Oldfather 844 to 278, and Karen Skiles had received 787 votes to 338 for Jan Brending.  Husum Fire District’s bond measure was being approved 635-to-298, and the County Emergency Medical Services District levy was passing 3,523 to 1,186.   In Skamania County Gabriel Spencer was winning the election for assessor 2,928 to 1,781 over Tom Dillon, while Adam Kick was ahead in his bid to be re-elected as Prosecuting Attorney with 2,761 votes to 2,120 over Dan McGill.  Dan Boyes was winning the PUD District Commissioner race 2,569 to 1,897 over Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.  The Underwood Parks and Recreation District levy measure had received 268 votes in favor to 157 against, while the Home Valley Water District levy had received 96 votes in favor and 60 against.