A bill to allow some Oregon tribes, including the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, to lease and sell property they own has received Congressional approval.  Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Representatives Greg Walden and Peter DeFazio had pushed for the Oregon Tribal Economic Development Act.  Currently, under the Indian Non-Intercourse Act, tribes are required to get federal approval to purchase, sell, convey, warrant, or lease lands they own privately, making it difficult to seize on economic development opportunities.  The new bill allows certain tribes in Oregon to forego that additional approval on privately held lands.  The bill does not affect property that is held in trust by the United States.  It now heads to the President for his signature.

Fire season is nearing in the Mid-Columbia.  Rick Fletcher of the Oregon Department of Forestry says the potential is very similar to what we’ve seen in years past. Spring rains led to growth of grasses and small shrubs, which means a heavier fuel load.  Fletcher says on Oregon Department of Forestry protected lands in Wasco County, open debris burning has been shut down as of Tuesday.  Contact your local fire agency for regulations in your area.

Mid-Columbia Community Action is holding a fundraiser block party on Friday outside of its headquarters on 312 East 4th in The Dalles, across from The Dalles Civic Auditorium.  Along with the organization’s annual barbecue, there will be some fun activities and a small auction with donations going to help assist families in need throughout the year.  Community Action Executive Director Jim Slusher says they are trying to generate more funds to help people who struggled to pay their heating bills this past winter.  The block party will be between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday.

Sherman County Medical Clinic announced its nurse practitioner has gotten an exemption allowing him to continue seeing Medicare patients.  The clinic had been concerned Mark Corey would not receive the exemption to serve a caseload of nearly 200 Medicare patients at the rural health clinic in Moro, which would have forced it to reduce services.  Sherman County Health District Administrator Caitlin Blagg said Senator Ron Wyden’s office assisted with getting the exemption approved.  She says the Nurse Practitioner is essential to provide quality health care in Sherman County.  Wyden said he was gratified to work with Medicare officials to reach a just resolution.

Southwest Washington Class 1A District Softball Tournament at Centralia First Round Hoquiam 19, Columbia 2:  The Bruins play Elma on Saturday at noon, and will need to win two games to reach the state playoffs.   Softball Oregon City 10, Hood River Valley 2:  The Pioneers scored nine runs in the last three innings to blow the game open.  Hannah McNerney hit a two-run homer for HRV.  

Oregon Class 5A Boys Golf Tournament On a day when scores jumped from the first round…Aiden Telles of The Dalles shot an 82 to finish in a tie for ninth at the Oregon Class 5A Boys Golf Tournament at Emerald Valley Golf Course in Creswell.  The Riverhawk sophomore shot 15-over-par over the two day event.  Thurston junior Tyler Garner won the tournament.   Washington Class 1A Boys Soccer Tournament First Round Overlake 5, Columbia 0   Softball Franklin 1, Hood River Valley 0:  The Eagles left seven runners on base as they could manage only two hits off of Franklin pitcher Samantha Brauckmiller.  The only run of the game was scored in third inning, when Maggie Brauckmiller scored on two HRV errors.  

An incumbent was defeated in Tuesday’s Wasco County Commission election.  Former Wasco-Sherman County Health Department Director Kathy Schwartz won the vote for Position 3 over two-term incumbent Rod Runyon.  Schwartz received 59 percent of the vote, 3,431 to 2,383 for Runyon.  In the other Wasco County Commission race, incumbent Scott Hege won a third term on the panel with 67 percent of the vote, 3,457 to 1,684 for challenger Roy Justesen.  Also on the Tuesday Wasco County ballot, the Dufur Recreation District’s three-year local option tax was renewed by a large margin, 270 to 62.  But the White River Health District’s five-year local option tax for general operations was defeated 313 to 307.

In Sherman County, no one received over 50 percent in the four-way race for County Judge.  Joe Dabulskis topped the group with 46.5 percent of the vote at 342, with Mike Smith receiving 287, followed by Larry Hoctor’s 60 and Fred Justesen’s 44.  Jamie McLeod Skinner received about 40 percent of the vote to easily win the Democrat Party nomination in Oregon’s Second Congressional District.  Jenni Neahring received 24 percent, while five other candidates split the rest.

Mike Oates will be the next Hood River County Commission Chair.  The orchardist with a long history of local governmental involvement polled 67 percent of the vote to win the seat over current District 2 County Commissioner Rich McBride.  Oates received 3,470 votes, while McBride polled 1,673.  Oates will succeed the retiring Ron Rivers at the end of the year.  The Hood River County School District’s local option levy was extended for another five years.  Voters gave their approval to continue the levy, first approved thirteen years ago.  The measure passed by a wide margin with 74 percent saying yes, 4,120 to 1,449.    

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)