Google issued a report on Monday highlighting the economic contributions of its data centers in The Dalles and five others in the U.S.  Google says it has invested $10.5 billion building data centers across the country since 2006, when it opened its location in The Dalles.  The company opened its third data center in The Dalles a couple of months ago, and now employs 200 people at its locations in the community and estimates a total of 696 jobs were created because of Google’s presence, with a total investment of $1.8 billion since 2006.  The report shows while Google is a major presence in The Dalles, their data center operations in the Gorge are the smallest of the six in the country.  The other five are in the Midwest and Southeastern part of the U.S.

Hood River County’s budget committee received two different scenarios from staff based on direction the panel has given to use approximately $750,000 in reserves to help fill a $1.4 million shortfall in the 2018-19 budget.  One used $739,000 in reserves, while a second actually used over $850,000.  County Administrator Jeff Hecksel says part of the direction was to avoid layoffs of full-time staff, and for the most part that happened in these proposals, which the budget committee is now studying.  The County budget committee meets again on Thursday at 3 p.m. at the County Administration Building.

The City of Hood River has begun its budget process for the 2018-19 fiscal year.  In his budget message, City Manager Steve Wheeler termed the outlook for the upcoming year as “strong and stable” thanks to a robust local economy, and the City will be able to meet key expectations.  Mayor Paul Blackburn says that there were still be important decisions to be made.  Budget committee meetings are being held every Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Hood River City Hall until the panel completes its work.  

Northwest Cherry Festival week has arrived in The Dalles.  The big focus is on the coming weekend, with the downtown events to begin on Friday evening and continuing through Sunday afternoon.  The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson says one change this year is the carnival, a schedule conflict necessitating a change from Davis Shows to Cascade Amusements Northwest.  Wristbands good for a full day’s worth of rides are available for $20 at The Dalles Chamber office until the festival starts, then the price goes up to $25.  Northwest Cherry Festival guides are available at Gorgeradio.com.

Baseball Hood River Valley splits with Pendleton, losing game one 8-5 in 10 innings and winning game two 3-0. The Dalles splits with Hermiston, losing game one 7-6 and winning game two 7-6. Columbia 7, Stevenson 0 Sherman sweeps Heppner 13-12 and 15-4 Culver sweeps Dufur 10-0 and 6-0 DeSales sweeps Lyle-Klickitat-Wishram 4-3 and 14-4   Softball Pendleton sweeps Hood River Valley 7-3 and 6-5 Hermiston sweeps The Dalles 7-6 and 15-5 Portland Christian 31, Stevenson 9 DeSales sweeps Lyle-Klickitat-Wishram 18-9 and 22-14   Track and Field The Dalles girls were third and the boys fifth at the Hermiston Kiwanis Invitational.  Sam Alvarez won the boys’ steeplechase, Emma Mullins the girls’ 800 meters, and Paulina Finn the girls’ high jump.   Hood River Valley’s boys and girls both finished fifth in the Wilsonville Invitiational.  HRV had four event winners:  Chad Klaas in the boys’ pole vault, Jonah Tactay in the boys’ triple jump, Frances Dickinson in the girls’ 3,000 meters, and Evelyn Nunez in the girls’ 800 meters.   Columbia won the girls team title at their Bruin Invitational, while the CHS boys were second to Hockinson.  The Bruins’ Alondra Casarez-Garcia won two events in the girls’ portion of the meet.  Columbia’s Alex Medina and Stevenson’s David McAndie and Issac Hoidal were double event winners in boys competition.   Lyle-Wishram’s boys were second and the South Wasco girls third at the Condon-Wheeler Invitational.  Lyle-Wishram’s Brandon Montoya won three events in boys competition, while Ana Popchock won three for the South Wasco girls.   Dufur’s boys were fifth at the Portland Christian Invitational, as Asa Farrell won the 100 meters and Owen Christiansen the long jump.   Boys Soccer Hoquiam 2, Columbia 0   Boys Lacrosse Hood River Valley 18, Summit 11 Hood River Valley 9, Bend 8   Girls Lacrosse Jesuit 16, Hood River Valley 7

The Hood River County School District is asking voters to renew the district’s five-year local option levy in the May 15 election.  The levy has been in place for 13 years, and the district is once again seeking a rate of $1.25 per thousand dollars of assessed property value, unchanged from the past ten years.  District board member Rich Truax says the levy funds the equivalent of 29 full-time positions, and allows the district to offer a wider range of programs.  The local option levy generates about $2.5 million, and the district then receives a state match of approximately $560,000.

Wahtonka Community School’s application to become a charter school isn’t complete yet, but it’s closer than it was a few months ago.  The North Wasco County School District 21 board received the application this week, and Superintendent Candy Armstrong says this time most of the heavy lifting like curriculum plans and course statements is done, but some details have to be taken care of.  Armstrong thinks the application can be finished within about a week, and at that point a hearing will be scheduled.

One lane and occasional full road closures will be in effect on East 18th Street between Thompson and Morton as work to extend sewer service to new homes under construction in that area continues through April 27.  Motorists are encouraged to minimize through traffic and use alternate routes when possible.  The Dalles Public Works Department says sanitary sewer construction is scheduled from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays.

The Dalles Public Works will be doing work on East 12th Street between H and Kelly this coming week in preparation for chip sealing activities in June.  No parking zone signs have been placed ahead of a full road closure on Monday between 6:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.  Motorists are asked to park vehicles outside of the work zone during work hours.  The purpose of the project is to extend the service life of the pavement structure.

Baseball King’s Way Christian 19, Columbia 0   Softball Hood River Valley 8, Hermiston 0:  Hannah McNerney drove in three runs and struck out eight while pitching a three-hit shutout.  Haylee Baker doubled three times as HRV amassed 12 hits. Columbia 22, Lyle-Wishram 3   Boys Tennis Hood River Valley 8, Pendleton 0 Hermiston 5, The Dalles 3   Girls Tennis Pendleton 6, Hood River Valley 2 Hermiston 6, The Dalles 2   Boys Soccer LaCenter 2, Columbia 1   Girls Lacrosse Hood River Valley 12, Grant 2:  Isabella Simpson, Katherine McElderry, and Ashley Hendricks scored two goals each to lead HRV to their eighth win in nine games.