The Wasco County Pioneer Association will hold its 96th annual gathering on Saturday at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center.  Association President Myron Egbert says there will be plenty of history of the region discussed as stories are told and historic photos will be on display.  He adds there is a “reunion” feel to the event.  Registration will begin at 9:30 Saturday morning at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center, with lunch catered by Cowboy Catering available for $15, and a program featuring Fort Dalles Museum director Cal McDermid beginning at 1 p.m.

As you open up your ballot for the May 15 primary in Oregon, you’ll notice a change to what used to be the secrecy envelope.  There is now a secrecy sleeve in which to slide your completed ballot into.  Election officials say when the ballot is inserted in the sleeve, it will extend beyond the sleeve slightly on the right side.  This makes it easier for election workers to see that a ballot exists, and can be easily pulled from the sleeve during the opening process.  Do not use tape or fold the ballot further.  The ballot and sleeve are then placed in the signature envelope, which election officials remind us must be signed for the ballot to be counted.  

Baseball Hood River Valley sweeps The Dalles 9-0 and 12-2:  Grayson Losee pitched a three-hit shutout in game one, then had a bases loaded triple as part of a nine-run fifth inning as HRV moved back within one game on Pendleton atop the Columbia River Conference standings. LaCenter 11, Columbia 3:  The Bruins fall a game-and-a-half back of LaCenter for first in the Trico League. King’s Way Christian 12, Stevenson 0 Sherman sweeps Dufur 13-3 and 10-0 Goldendale split with Cle Elum-Roslyn, losing game one 8-5 but winning the second game 11-8. Lyle-Wishram sweeps Liberty Christian 8-1 and 8-6   Softball Hood River Valley sweeps The Dalles 12-0 and 14-1:  The Eagles scored ten runs in the first inning to win the opener, and then hit six home runs in game two.  Kaylin Winans homered in both games, while Haylee Baker, Hannah McNerney, Emilie Ellifritz, Zoe Munn, and Lizzie Weekly were involved in the game two barrage. Liberty Christian sweeps Lyle-Wisham 17-2 and 16-1.   Track and Field Hood River Valley’s boys finished second and The Dalles girls fifth at the Dean Nice Invitational in Gresham.  In boys’ competition HRV received event wins from Brycen Polzel in the javelin and Chad Klaas in the pole vault, while Justin Conklin of The Dalles won the high jump.   Stevenson’s David McAndie won both boys’ hurdles races and Lincoln Krog was first in the long jump and triple jump at the Panther Invitational in Washougal.  The Bulldogs’ Kaitlyn Rathgeber won the girls’ 400 meters.   Goldendale held off Lyle-Wishram and Dufur to win the boys’ title while Griswold won the girls’ team standings at the Sherman Invitational.  Lyle-Wishram’s Brandon Montoya won three events in the boys’ half of the meet, while Goldendale’s Allison Gilliam and South Wasco’s Ana Popchock won two girls’  events apiece.   Columbia won the boys’ title and host Trout Lake the girls’ crown at the Jeff Agar Invitational.  Chandler Bucklin won three events for the CHS boys, while Glenwood’s Brooklyn Emerson and Trout Lake’s Isabella Dean each won two on the girls’ side.   Girls Lacrosse Hood River Valley 14, Wilsonville 10:  Abigail Bartles and Ashley Hendricks scored three goals apiece for the Eagles.   Boys Tennis Hood River Valley won one out of three matches at the Central Oregon Duals, losing to Redmond 6-2 and Summit 5-3, and defeating Bend on sets after finishing even at 4-4.

The Hood River County School District is now taking applications for the currently vacant position six on its board.  Position six is in the northeast portion of the district.  To be considered for the appointment, applicants must be legally registered voters and residents of Hood River County and reside within the position six attendance area.  Applications and position zone maps are available at the district website.  Applications will be accepted until this coming Thursday at 4 p.m.  Board members will conduct public interviews, vote to select the candidate, and appoint and administer the oath of office to the new board member at the May 9 meeting.  The new board member will fill a term that ends on June 30, 2019.  Those with questions can call the district at 541-387-5013.

The NORCOR budget committee unanimously recommended a budget for 2018-19 that essentially flat funds the regional jail.  Hood River County Commissioner Bob Benton, who represents the County on the NORCOR board, made the request to keep county subsidies of the jail the same as it has been for the last two years at one-point-five million dollars, and if approved by the NORCOR board this fiscal plan will do that.  NORCOR administrator Bryan Brandenburg says the facility has had flat funding for the last four to five years, adding the counties can cut their way out of the jail’s budget problems.  He also presented alternate budget scenarios that showed even if inmate capacities were reduced with no contracts with other jurisdictions, county contributions would still need to go up a substantial amount.  Sherman County Commissioner Tom McCoy said he felt there was a 25 percent chance NORCOR will need to go back to the counties for more money.  The budget will now go to the NORCOR board for final approval.

Late spring brings bigger crowds to the Columbia River Gorge but visitors are reminded to honor closure points marking where conditions remain dangerous.  Many trails, parks and roads operated by the U.S. Forest Service, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and the Oregon Department of Transportation remain closed by the impact of the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire.  These areas are still dangerous and will not open to the public until they are safe.  More than 1,000 cubic yards of debris have fallen on the closed section of the Historic Columbia River Highway in the last four weeks alone.  Hikers, bikers or motorists violating closure points put themselves in danger and may be subject to fines.  Tips on how to have a safe and responsible visit to the Gorge can be found at ReadySetGorge.com.  Visitors are encouraged to go to alternative destinations on the Washington side and at the eastern end of the Gorge to help relieve the pressure on the Gorge and give it time to heal.

Softball Ridgeview 18, The Dalles 1   Boys Soccer Seton Catholic 4, Stevenson 0   Track and Field Horizon Christian’s Andrew Wells won the boys’ discus at the Southwest Christian Invitational, while Andrew Hung was second in the 200 meters.   Boys Lacrosse Grant 10, Hood River Valley 2

The NORCOR budget committee unanimously recommended a budget for 2018-19 that essentially flat funds the regional jail.  Hood River County Commissioner Bob Benton, who represents the County on the NORCOR board, made the request to keep county subsidies of the jail the same as it has been for the last two years at $1.5 million, and if approved by the NORCOR board this fiscal plan will do that.  NORCOR administrator Bryan Brandenburg says the facility has had flat funding for the last four to five years, adding the counties cannot cut their way out of the jail’s budget problems.  He also presented alternate budget scenarios that showed even if inmate capacities were reduced with no contracts with other jurisdictions, county contributions would still need to go up a substantial amount.  Sherman County Commissioner Tom McCoy said he felt there was a 25 percent chance NORCOR will need to go back to the counties for more money.  The budget will now go to the NORCOR board for final approval.

It is Cherry Festival weekend in The Dalles.  The Open Air Market downtown opens at 4 p.m. Friday, with the Family Pit Party set to begin on the stage at the same time.  Saturday features the Tonkin Subaru Cherry Festival Parade at 10 a.m. following the usual route.  Lisa Farquharson of The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce says this year’s grand marshal is Barbara Pashek.  A guide to this weekend’s Cherry Festival activities is available at gorgeradio.com.  The Bicoastal Media Guild Mortgage Home and Lifestyle Show is a part of the Cherry Festival weekend.  It will be open Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in The Dalles Civic Auditorium, and admission is free.

Late spring brings bigger crowds to the Columbia River Gorge but visitors are reminded to honor closure points marking where conditions remain dangerous.  Many trails, parks and roads operated by the U.S. Forest Service, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and the Oregon Department of Transportation remain closed by the impact of the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire.  These areas are still dangerous and will not open to the public until they are safe.  More than 1,000 cubic yards of debris have fallen on the closed section of the Historic Columbia River Highway in the last four weeks alone.  Hikers, bikers or motorists violating closure points put themselves in danger and may be subject to fines.  Tips on how to have a safe and responsible visit to the Gorge can be found at ReadySetGorge.com.  Visitors are encouraged to go to alternative destinations on the Washington side and at the eastern end of the Gorge to help relieve the pressure on the Gorge and give it time to heal.