Ballots in Oregon must be returned to County election offices or official drop boxes by 8 p.m. on Tuesday.  Latest numbers in the local area show 50.51 percent of ballots have been returned in Hood River County, while Wasco County is at 44.98 percent.  In Hood River County ballots can be taken to the County Administration Building at 601 State Street in Hood River or to Cascade Locks City Hall.  In Wasco County take ballots to the Courthouse on 511 Washington Street in The Dalles or to Maupin City Hall.  In Washington ballots must only be postmarked by Tuesday.  In Klickitat County there are twelve drop box locations while in Skamania County there are seven, go to county auditor’s office websites for a complete list.

The Wasco County Crisis Response Team recently held a tabletop exercise with the scenario of a potential active shooter at a school.  Along with Wasco County emergency response agencies, representatives from Hood River, Sherman, and Gilliam counties along with the FBI took part.  North Wasco County School District 21 Superintendent Candy Armstrong says this kind of exercise helps to prepare them to respond to a variety of emergency situations, adding reunification of students and parents was an emphasis.  Armstrong points out that during major emergency incidents, they’ve been told cell phone services go down very quickly.  

Hood River was a busy place in September and October.  Hood River County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Michael Glover reports that lodgers in the area say they did good business during the early fall months, with some reporting above 90 percent occupancy rates.  Glover notes this year they had a lot of media attention for Hood River as a “fall drive” destination, especially for the Hood River Fruit Loop.  He says it wasn’t all about the weather, adding the visitors were coming from all over, not just the Portland area.

The H.W. Hill Renewable Natural Gas Project located at the Republic Services Regional Landfill in Roosevelt has begun gas injection and sales into the Williams Northwest pipeline system.  The Klickitat Public Utility District says the service started on Friday.  Under a 15-year purchase and sales agreement with IGI Resources, a subsidiary of BP North America, the H.W. Hill Renewable Natural Gas project will be one of the largest and most efficient renewable natural gas projects in the world.   According to the PUD, the utility and its contractors will continue to optimize the new facility to maximize the efficiency and reliability of this project.  A public dedication ceremony is planned in the spring.

The Dalles Public Works Department is reminding homeowners to take a few simple steps to reduce the risk of burst pipes before freezing weather sets in.  Drain or blow out all irrigation systems, remove hoses from outside faucets and install an insulated cover on faucets, insulate or install heat tape on water pipes exposed to the cold, and if you have installed heat tapes, check to be sure they are working.  Make sure all foundation vents are closed or plugged, secure basements against the cold, fill drafty cracks, and repair broken windows.  Look for your main shut-off valve, usually located where the water pipe enters your house.  If you do not have a main shut-off valve, install one in case of emergency.  And check that your water meter is insulated by lifting the small metal door on your water meter.  If the thermal blanket is missing, call the Public Works Department.

The body of a Kelso teenager reported missing while hiking near Lava Canyon in mid-October has been found.  The Skamania County Sheriff’s office says the body of 18-year-old Garrett Canada was found in the Swift Reservoir eighteen miles east of Cougar on Saturday by a group of scouts who were staying at a nearby campground.  Canada was reported missing on October 15 while hiking near Lava Canyon.  An extensive multi-day search was conducted at the time and evidence suggested he had fallen into the water.  Canada’s body was transported to the Clark County Medical Examiner’s office for autopsy.

Hood River Valley has won the OSAA Class 5A girls’ cross country championship in a dominating performance in Eugene, finishing 51 points in front of Wilsonville and Crater. HRV’s Frances Dickinson was the individual champion in a time of 18:40 while teammate Brinna Weiseth was in second two seconds back. Josephine Dickinson was fifth, and Evelyn Nunez ninth.  It’s the second time Hood River Valley has won a state girls’ cross country title, winning the 3A title in 1992, and follows up a second place finish last year.  Frances Dickinson is the third Eagle to win the state individual girls’ cross country title, joining Christy Paul in 2001 and Grace Grim in 2012.  The Dalles finished ninth, with Emma Mullins the top Riverhawk runner in 20th. Hood River Valley was sixth as a team in the 5A boys’ race, led by an 11th place finish by Josh Haynes and 14th by Omar Quintana.  Sam Alvarez of The Dalles was 19th.

The Hood River Valley Eagles volleyball team has won the fourth place trophy at the OSAA Class 5A tournament in Hillsboro, finishing with a 10-25, 25-21, 25-20, 22-25, 15-13 win over Crater.

Thursday Schedule Oregon Class 5A Water Polo Quarterfinals At Osborn Aquatic Center, Corvallis Girls Hood River Valley 18, Parkrose 1:  HRV takes on Ashland next Friday in Beaverton in the semi-finals.   Boys Hood River Valley 19, Redmond 3:  The Eagles face West Albany in next Friday’s semis in Beaverton.   Friday Schedule Oregon Class 5A Volleyball Tournament Quarter-final Corvallis def. Hood River Valley 25-19, 25-17, 12-25, 25-9:  HRV meets Wilsonville in a consolation round game Saturday at 8 a.m. at Liberty High School in Hillsboro.   Oregon Class 1A Football Playoffs First Round Bonanza at Dufur, 5 p.m.   Southwest Washington Class 1A District Playoff Columbia at Montesano, 7 p.m.   Regular Season Football North Beach at Lyle-Wishram, 7 p.m. Goldendale at Wapato   Saturday Schedule HRV and The Dalles at Oregon Class 5A Cross Country Championships in Eugene Girls at 1:45 p.m. Boys at 2:20 p.m.   Columbia, Stevenson, and Goldendale at Washington Class 1A Cross Country Championships in Pasco Girls at 10:30 a.m. Boys at Noon   Trout Lake at Washington Class 1B Cross Country Championships in Pasco Girls at 10 a.m. Boys at 11:30 a.m.   Southwest Washington Class 1A District Volleyball Tournament Columbia vs. King’s Way Christian at Castle Rock, 10 a.m.

The end of daylight saving time occurs at 2:00 a.m. Sunday.  At 2:00 a.m. on the 4th we will “fall back” an hour, turning 1:59:59 a.m. into 1 a.m.  Analog clocks. including those on microwaves and ovens, are on a short list of household appliances that will need a manual adjustment.  But since most digital clocks, including those in computers, smartphones and DVRs, do it automatically, it’s not as much of a chore as it used to be.  Starting Sunday, one hour of daylight is basically shifted from evening to morning as standard time begins.  We don’t go back to daylight saving until Sunday, March 10, 2019, about 10 days before spring begins.