Hood River County Commissioners had varying opinions on how deep they were willing to dip into reserves to balance the 2018-19 fiscal year budget, but there was consensus they want to develop some kind of revenue measure to put before voters in November.  Commissioner Rich McBride called for a commitment to not cut jobs in this budget, but Les Perkins and Bob Benton both said they couldn’t do that, with Perkins advocating for a budget that is sustainable for the next three years without new revenues and noting uncertainty for multiple years is more difficult on staff than dealing with it up front.  Commission Chair Ron Rivers noted while the County’s budget committee asked for direction on how to consider the use of reserves, there are varying opinions from the board.  Commissioners plan to convene community focus groups to discuss various aspects of the County’s fiscal challenge as part of developing a revenue measure.  In addition, former Hood River Mayor Arthur Babitz has been brought on board to act as an unpaid advisor to County Administrator Jeff Hecksel in evaluating budget options.  The budget committee meets on Friday at 3 p.m. in the County Administration Building.

During a fairly light meeting for The Dalles City Council, Councilors approved an amendment to the ordinance governing pedestrian and vehicular traffic to include restrictions on commercial vehicle parking in residential zoning districts.  Under the ordinance passed by Councilors, commercial vehicles with any of a height greater than seven feet, length greater than 20 feet, or width greater than eight feet will not be allowed to park on streets in residential zones.  Moving vans or trucks that are being actively loaded or unloaded, utility vehicles in use for construction or repair work, and parcel delivery vehicles are exempt from the restriction.  The move came about after the City received complaints from residents concerning the parking of large commercial vehicles in their neighborhood.

A fire burned a home in the 300 block of Main Street in Wishram.  The American Red Cross Cascades Region says one adult was impacted by the fire, which occurred on Monday at around 5 p.m.  The Red Cross provided resources to help address the immediate basic needs of that person.  No other information on the fire is available.

Baseball Stevenson splits with Castle Rock, winning game one 3-0 and losing game two 21-3.   Golf The Dalles’ boys were third at the Bend Invitational.  The Riverhawks’ Tyler Vassar and Aidan Telles tied for fourth, both shooting a six-over-par 78.  The Riverhawks finished sixth in the girls’ portion of the tournament.   Boys Tennis LaSalle 7, Hood River Valley 1 Goldendale 4, White Swan 1   Girls Tennis Sherman 3, Stevenson 2 Goldendale 5, White Swan 0

Hood River County Commissioners are holding a 4 p.m. meeting today (Monday) at the County Administration Building to talk about what kind of direction to give the budget committee as they consider how to deal with a one-point-four million dollar budget shortfall.  Budget committee members have asked for direction on how they should balance use of the two-point-four million dollars the county has in reserves and budget cuts.  County Commission Chair Ron Rivers stated his preference on Mid-Columbia Today not to see the County go backwards, and would like to find a different revenue source.  Potential revenue options include a local option levy similar to what the Hood River County School District has had for 13 years, a public safety district, and an extension service district.  The budget committee meets again on Friday at 3 p.m. in the County Administration Building.

The Port of The Dalles is hoping to take a developed relationship with the Bonneville Power Administration and use it to develop a better relationship with other federal agencies.  The BPA recently purchased over four acres from the Port for a substation upgrade.  Port Executive Director Andrea Klaas says part of the conversation with the BPA was to try to improve relationships with other federal agencies who at times they have been at odds with in trying to develop local projects.  She adds a meeting is planned in The Dalles in late spring and early summer to have those agencies look at the community.  Klaas says the hope is to move ahead dialogue on processing and timing of permits.

Baseball Hood River Valley 3, Prairie 2 Hood River Valley 7, Heritage 0 Prairie 2, The Dalles 0 The Dalles 14, Heritage 12   Softball The Dalles 4, Canby 2   Track and Field Hood River Valley’s girls won the Sandy Invitational, while the boys finished second.  Katie Kennedy won three events for the HRV girls while Poppy Miller, Josephine Dickinson, and Chloe Bullock won one event each.  Gabriel Campos-Davis won two events apiece for the Eagle boys with Chad Klaas and Robby Running also grabbed first place finishes.   The Dalles girls finished fourth and the boys seventh at the Laker Classic Invitational in Lake Oswego.  Emma Mullins, Tressa Wood, and Tialima Paulo had third place finishes for the Riverhawk girls, while Justin Conklin had a second and a third for the Riverhawk boys.   South Wasco’s girls were second at the Riverside Twilight Relays in Boardman.  Ana Popchock won the 300 meter hurdles and triple jump, while Madisen Davis and Madalynn Gragg also won events for the Redsides.   Horizon Christian’s boys were fourth and the girls tied for sixth at the CS Lewis Academy Invitational.  The Hawks’ Kaitlyn Wenz won the girls’ long jump, Valerie Bruggeman the girls’ pole vault, and Andrew Wells the boys’ discus.   Sherman’s boys and girls finished eighth at AMJ Invitational at Blue River.  The Huskies’ Owen Christiansen won the boys’ long jump.   Glenwood’s Kinley Troh won the girls’ discus at the Ramos Relays in Selah.   Girls Lacrosse Hood River Valley 19, Westview 9:  Abigail Bartles and Kathryn Koenig scored six goals apiece to keep HRV undefeated.   Boys Lacrosse Canby 11, Hood River Valley 2

Repair work continues on Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area trails damaged by the Eagle Creek Fire.  Work parties have recently been held at Sams Walker, pulling weeds and removing blackberries, as well as on Gorton Creek, Herman Creek, Wahkeena, and Angel’s Rest trails.  The Scenic Area’s Rachel Pawlitz says trails east of Cascade Locks have been assessed and repairs are underway, and big trails at the west end of the Gorge also are seeing work being done.  But she adds assessments are continuing in the area between Multnomah Falls and Cascade Locks are continuing.  Pawlitz does emphasize there are plenty of hiking opportunities available throughout the region, even with the closures due to fire damage.  For updates on trail status, go to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area website.

A rally is set for Saturday at Hood River’s Children’s Park to say good-bye to the 25-year-old wooden structure and fundraise for its replacement.  The P.E.P. rally is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.  It’s a free event to attend with music, face painting, food, and games available.  There will be opportunities to sign-up for volunteering to help with the construction of our new playground and donate to the effort.  Children’s Park will close soon to prepare for installation of a larger play structure made out of more modern materials.  A community build week is planned for early June.  

Four people were injured Thursday morning in a three-vehicle accident within a section of eastbound Interstate 84 between Cascade Locks and Hood River that has been restricted to one lane due to construction, backing up traffic for about an hour.  Hood River County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Pete Hughes says the accident occurred just after 11 a.m. at milepost 53.  A passenger SUV rear-ended a military vehicle, and then a tractor-trailer rear ended the SUV.  Hughes said passengers in the SUV were taken to hospital, but no critical injuries were reported.