Hood River County Commission Chair   Mike Oates                              2,686   Rich McBride                         1,310     Hood River County School District Local Option   Yes                                          3,152   No                                           1,134     Wasco County Commission Pos. 1   Scott Hege                              2,654   Roy Justesen                           1,329     Wasco County Commission Pos. 3   Kathy Schwartz                      2,689   Rod Runyon                           1,827     Dufur Recreation District Local Option Tax   Yes                                          208   No                                           57     White River Health District Local Option   Yes                                          238   No                                           260       Sherman County Judge   Fred Justesen              38   Joe Dabulskis              282 (45.5)   Mike Smith                 246  (39.5)   Larry Hoctor               54         Oregon 2nd Congressional District Democrat   Jamie McLeod Skinner 9,822 (44.6) Jenni Neahring              4,933 (22.4)   Oregon Governor Republican   Knute Buehler             66,912 (49.84) Sam Carpenter            36,949 (27.5) Greg Wooldridge        22,913 (17.1)     Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries   Val Hoyle                    190,140 (55) Lou Ogden                  114,796 (33) Jack Howard               39,371 (11)   Supreme Court Judge Position 3   Megan Flynn               247,481 (75) Van Pounds                84,400 (24)   Court of Appeals Position 10   Rex Armstrong           199,561 (64) Kyle Krohn                 113,612 (36)

Voters in Oregon have until 8 p.m. to deliver their ballots to County election offices or official drop boxes.  Ballot drop boxes are located in Hood River County at the County Administration Building and Cascade Locks City Hall, and in Wasco County at the County Courthouse in The Dalles and Maupin City Hall.  The Dalles Rotary Club is again hosting ballot drive-thru collection on 5th Street at the Wasco County Courthouse.  Highlighting the ballot in Wasco County are two contested County Commission seats, with incumbents Rod Runyon and Scott Hege opposed by Kathy Schwartz and Roy Justesen, while the Dufur Recreation District seeks a three-year extension of its local option tax for operation.  In Hood River County, Mike Oates and Rich McBride are candidates for County Commission Chair, while the Hood River County School District’s local option levy is also up for vote.

The Dalles City Council gave direction to staff to explore whether a move of the Gitchell/Waldron Building is feasible, and also to get a detailed estimate for demolition of the building.  Councilors said they wanted to get a report of progress in 120 days.  A move of the building located next to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks in downtown The Dalles would be to the south side of East First Street, and would involve stabilization, restoration, and re-use of the building.  The City has received one response to a request for proposal for such move, which would involve a non-profit being formed to take ownership of the building.  In determining if a move is feasible, City staff will have to answer questions on liability issues.  Councilors were unanimous in approving the next steps.  In other business, the Council unanimously approved the scope of work and budget for tourism services by The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce for the 2018-19 fiscal year.

The Dalles City Council approved moving forward with establishment of a new Wasco County Joint Enterprise Zone.  The current enterprise zone structure expires on June 30.  In the new version, which would be in effect for ten years, the Port of The Dalles will join Wasco County and the City as a sponsor.  In addition Maupin, Dufur and Mosier will come on board along with the unincorporated areas of Tygh Valley, Wamic, and Pine Grove.  Enterprise zones negotiate tax-abatement agreements for qualifying new business developments, usually with the business making agreed upon payments for the length of the abatement.  Some taxing districts, most notably Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, have called for a change in how those payments are distributed by going to a set formula.  But City officials decided those discussions are a separate issue from establishing the new enterprise zone.

Federal, state, tribal and local agencies will be gathered at Riverfront Park and the Fort Dalles Readiness Center in The Dalles on Wednesday to conduct a mass rescue operation exercise.  The Coast Guard is running the exercise that will help first responder agencies to evaluate search and rescue procedures and coordination, interagency Incident Command System response, triage accountability processes, and joint communications procedures and capabilities.  The scenario to be practiced involves a large passenger vessel that runs hard aground near Three Mile Rapids, which causes mass injuries and forces passengers into the Columbia River without lifejackets.

Oregon Girls Lacrosse State Playoffs First Round Hood River Valley 12, Summit 4:  Katherine Koenig scored three goals while Kat McElderry, Terra Mikkelsen, and Alex Willis scored two apiece as the Eagles advance to the quarterfinals.  HRV will play at West Linn on Thursday.   Boys Lacrosse Wilson 13, Hood River Valley 12   Oregon Class 5A Boys Golf Tournament Aiden Telles of The Dalles shot a five-over-par 77 in round one, good for a tie for seventh.  He is seven shots back of leader John Pollock of Marist.  The second and final round is today at Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell.   SCAC West Tennis Tournament Goldendale’s boys doubles team of John Hanna and Aiden Bothamley and the girls’ pair of Talia Johnson and Kelli Bighorn won third place matches and advance to the SCAC Tournament starting Friday at Connell.  The Timberwolves’ Halie Allen and Kristi Bighorn won the girls’ doubles fifth place match to move on to the district tourney.   Baseball Forest Grove 5, The Dalles 4 Sherman 16, Hood River Valley JV 2

The Port of The Dalles has been working with the Oregon State Marine Board looking for ways to reconfigure and improve the boat launch ramp at the Port’s marina.  Port Executive Director Andrea Klaas says one of the issues is in play right now with high Columbia River water levels.  She says with the current water levels, when people walk down the approach ramp they have to step up on to the dock.  Klaas says the Port is taking pictures to document the situation.  Klaas adds with pikeminnow season underway, the marina is very busy.

If the Hood River County School District’s five-year continuation of its local option levy passes this evening, the district is planning to add eight to nine staff members.  Superintendent Dan Goldman says it would represent a continued slow climb out of the recession of ten years ago.  But if it doesn’t pass, Goldman says the district faces reducing staff by 29 people.  The district would also have to spend two million dollars from reserves, something Goldman says they don’t want to do with looming PERS rate increases.

Voters in Oregon have until Tuesday at 8 p.m. to deliver their ballots to County election offices.  Heading into today 27 percent of Hood River County ballots had been returned, while Wasco County was just under 25 percent.  Ballot drop boxes are located in Hood River County at the County Administration Building and Cascade Locks City Hall, and in Wasco County at the County Courthouse in The Dalles and Maupin City Hall.  County Commission races highlight both ballots locally.  In Hood River County, the school district’s local option levy is also up for vote.

The Hood River County Budget Committee has adopted a recommended fiscal plan for 2018-19, and is headed to the County Commission for approval.  It uses about $763,000 in reserve funds to help fill a $1.4 million shortfall.  County Commission Chair Ron Rivers says that’s to allow time to figure out how to find solutions for the County’s revenue issues.  County Administrator Jeff Hecksel said there was a reduction in the parks budget that will lead to no maintenance at Oak Grove, Panorama Point and Ruthton parks along with the cemetery in 2019.  The County will contract with the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area to partner on GIS services, and there are minor reductions to the County Museum and extension services.