Wahtonka Community School in The Dalles is starting to accept applications for a lottery that will determine its waiting list for students for the 2018-19 school year.  Wahtonka is transitioning into a charter school, and has been operating within North Wasco County School District 21 for the past four years.  The school uses project based learning which provides the opportunity for students to do community service projects, with students connected to mentors to help them learn real world skills.  The school for grades 9 to 12 has a capacity of 60 students.  The waiting list lottery will take place on August 17.  Parents who would like their child’s name to be entered into the lottery can text school Principal Brian Goodwin at 541.288.6861, or email him at goodwinb@nwasco.k12.or.us.  Include your child’s name, age and year they will be in school next year.  The deadline to enter is 6 p.m. August 16.

Fort Dalles Fourth officials say the carnival operation for the event, Rainier Amusements, was robbed while setting up in downtown The Dalles.  According to a Fort Dalles Fourth Facebook post, thieves stole state of the art ticketing equipment, checks, and credit cards.  Fort Dalles Fourth organizer Nolan Hare is warning people that tickets purchased before the carnival opens (Thursday) are not valid.  The Dalles Police Detective Jamie Carrico added that anyone who tries to use a ticket acquired before today will be questioned by police.  Anyone who may have information about the incident are asked to call The Dalles Police at 541-296-2233.

Columbia Gorge Community College is partnering with the Economic Development Administration and the Oregon Investment Board to try to identify unmet skills in the region’s food and beverage industry.  CGCC Community Outreach Manager Dan Spatz says the college will be using a grant from the EDA to conduct a feasibility study of the industry to find out what the workforce needs are and whether the college can assist in developing that workforce.  That includes determining what the wage scales are, hiring and retention information, and the ability to progress in a career.  The college is taking proposals from consultants interested in conducting the study.

The historic Benson Bridge, located between upper and lower Multnomah Falls, reopened Thursday for the first time since the Eagle Creek Fire.  The remainder of the Larch Mountain Trail, which continues up to the upper viewing platform, remains closed due to damage sustained by last year’s 48,000-acre Eagle Creek Fire.  Many road and trail closures remain in effect in the vicinity of Multnomah Falls due to damage or ongoing hazards, including Angels Rest Trail, Shepperd’s Dell State Natural Area, George W. Joseph State Natural Area, most segments of the Gorge 400 and Historic Highway State Trails, and all Forest Service system trails south of Interstate 84 in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area east of Angel’s Rest and west of Cascade Locks.  Please check for closures before heading out for a visit, by checking ReadySetGorge.com.  Violators that enter closed areas are subject to citations and fines.

The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office this morning lifted the Level 1 “get ready” evacuation notice that had been in place for the southeast Maupin area since the Boxcar Fire ignited one week ago.  Fire officials put containment for the Boxcar Fire at 85 percent on Wednesday, and management of the fire location was transferred from a Type 2 team to Type 3 this morning.  The fire burned 100,207 acres.

The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District, including Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties, is implementing a regulated-use closure effective at 12:01 a.m. Friday on private, municipal and state lands protected by ODF.  Assistant District Forester Rob Pentzer says fire activity has shown a significant potential for rapid fire growth, and the district is looking to reduce potential fire starts from high risk activities.  For information on regulations associated with closure, go to odfcentraloregon.com.  Beginning on Sunday open burning, including burn barrels in Hood River and Wasco counties, will be prohibited.

Estimated containment of the Boxcar Fire has increased to 85%, with the Jack Knife Fire up to 95%.  The Boxcar Fire south of Maupin is now listed as 100,207 acres in size, with the Jack Knife Fire at 15,676 acres, but fire officials say there was no significant growth Tuesday, with the small increase in acreage due to more accurate mapping.  A number of resources are being released to other fires in the West, with management shifting from a Type 2 to a Type 3 team on Thursday morning. All roads in the vicinity of Maupin are open and the Deschutes River is open to recreation.

The City of Hood River is about to do a planned study of summer season parking issues in the downtown area.  City Manager Steve Wheeler says he signed the contract for the work last week, which will follow up on an off-season study done this past winter.  Mayor Paul Blackburn says they are trying to get data to guide future parking plans.  Wheeler says a committee has begun to meet to discuss downtown parking issues.

The North Wasco County School District 21 board met with various community stakeholders this week in a worksession to discuss facilities usage.  D-21 has a high level of demand from various community organizations for both its buildings and athletic fields, while also needing to accommodate its own needs.  Superintendent Candy Armstrong says the worksession brought to the surface issues that need to be addressed, including better management of facilities use requests.  Armstrong says they are also strengthening their partnership with the Northern Wasco County Parks and Recreation District.

It appears the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Department is willing to provide funding to repair the North boat ramp at Pine Hollow Reservoir.  Wasco County Commissioner Scott Hege says he got word of that at a meeting Tuesday in Wamic with the Oregon State Marine Board, which is funding work on the South ramp.  Hege says work on the North ramp has been recommended by a committee to the full state Fish and Wildlife board, and approval is expected.  Both ramps at the popular fishing and water sports location have been in need of repair, and the recently formed South Wasco Parks and Recreation District has been working with the County to obtain the state funding.