Senators Ron Wyden of Oregon and Mike Crapo of Idaho introduced legislation on Thursday to make the Secure Rural Schools program that expired at the end of fiscal year 2018 permanent by creating an endowment fund.  The two senators say the Forest Management for Rural Stability Act would provide stable, increasing and reliable funding for county services.  The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act Wyden co-authored was enacted in 2000 to financially assist counties with public, tax-exempt forestlands.  Critical services at the county level have historically been funded in part with a 25 percent share of timber receipts from federal U.S. Forest Service lands, and a 50 percent share of timber receipts from federal Oregon and California Grant Lands managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.  As those revenues have fallen or fluctuated due to reduced timber harvest and market forces, SRS payments helped bridge the gap.  But in recent years Congress has allowed SRS funding to lapse and decrease, creating uncertainty for counties as they budget for basic services.

Boys Basketball Sandy 88, Hood River Valley 68:  The Pioneers jumped out to a quick early lead thanks to a 32-point first quarter…and held the Eagles at arms-length after that.  Pierce Roeder scored 22 points to lead the Pioneers, while Carson Flores scored 30 for HRV. Stevenson 59, Riverside 54   Girls Basketball The Dalles 42, Reynolds 26 Sandy 55, Hood River Valley 33   Wrestling Hood River Valley 52, Woodburn 30 Cascade 51, Hood River Valley 27:  Ryan Zeller, Chad Muenzer, and Alberto Rojas won two matches apiece during the double dual.

A 51-year-old Parkdale woman was taken into custody early Wednesday morning after barricading herself in her home for nine hours.  According to the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, Lisa Vieira fired several shots at a deputy after the officer arrived at her home to check on her welfare just before 5 p.m. Tuesday.  The deputy was able to safely retreat from the immediate area while Vieira barricaded herself in the residence.  Tactical team members from the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, The Dalles Police Department, Sherman County Sheriff’s Office, and Oregon State Police responded to the home, and at around 2 a.m. Wednesday Vieira surrendered peacefully to an Oregon State Police SWAT Team, ending the standoff without injury.  Vieira was lodged at NORCOR in The Dalles on charges of attempted aggravated murder, recklessly endangering another person, and pointing a firearm at another.  The Sheriff’s Office had received a call from a distraught female, then got a call from her employer to report she had not been to work for the last several days, leading to the deputy going to the residence.  The Columbia Gorge Major Crimes Team is continuing the investigation.

The decade-long saga of a proposal to build a Wal-Mart in The Dalles near Chenoweth Creek has taken another turn.  The Oregon Court of Appeals reversed and remanded back to the Division of State Lands a decision to award a wetland fill and removal permit for the project.  The group Citizens For Responsible Development took the issue to the appellant court, contending DSL lacked a finding that the project served a public need and therefore the agency lacked authority to grant the permit.  In the remand ruling the Court found state statutes require DSL find the public need for a proposed project predominates before issuing a fill and removal permit, and because in the case of this application it found it was inconclusive whether the project would address a public need, DSL erred in granting Wal-Mart the permit.

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.