Oregon Second District Congressman Greg Walden confirmed this morning that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg will testify before the House and Energy Commerce Committee that Walden chairs.  Zuckerberg will testify on his company’s use and protection of user data next Wednesday morning.  In a joint statement, Walden and Committee Ranking Member Democrat Frank Pallone of New Jersey said the hearing will be an opportunity to shed light on critical consumer data privacy issues.  They added they appreciated Zuckerberg willingness to testify…and look forward to him answering their questions.

The Port of Hood River Commission received a real estate portfolio assessment from EcoNorthwest at their Tuesday evening meeting.  It shows the Port has fifteen different properties with viable potential for development.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says the reality is they can’t do them all, and a priority list will be put together.  Looming over all of that is the eventual replacement of the Interstate Bridge, and how that would affect the Port’s ability to borrow money and develop.  Port Commissioners received the assessment in preparation for their upcoming spring planning session.

The Next Door is looking for men and women who can help youngsters through their mentoring programs in Wasco, Klickitat, and Hood River counties.  Klickitat and Hood River County match coordinator Emily Roberts says they need mentors for both their Big Brothers Big Sisters and Mentor 4 Success programs.  Roberts says they ask for a two hour per week commitment from their mentors for one year, adding they provide plenty of support.  For information on how to volunteer to be a mentor, call The Next Door at 541-490-9979 in the Hood River area or 541-399-0259 in The Dalles area.

Track and Field Hermiston topped The Dalles in a Columbia River Conference dual meet, with the Bullldog boys winning 81-64 and the girls 110-34.  Jonathan Knotts won the boys’ 800 and 1500 meters for the Riverhawks, while Emma Mullins was first in the girls’ 400 and 800.   Baseball Game 1: Columbia (Burbank) 14, Goldendale 3 Game 2:  Goldendale 10, Columbia (Burbank) 7 Stanfield 15, Sherman 8   Boys Lacrosse Hood River Valley 16, LaSalle 1:  The Eagles won their fourth straight to start the season.   Girls Lacrosse Hood River Valley 17, Wilson 3:   Emma Norris scored four goals and Abigail Bartles three for HRV, which ran its record to 4-0.    

With a lack of an affirmative vote, the Hood River County Commission denied Apollo Land Holdings’ application to construct a hotel on the former Dee Mill site as part of the DeeTour project after a hearing of a state Land Use Board of Appeals remand of the application’s initial approval.  The vote was two-to-two, with Commissioners Les Perkins and Karen Joplin voting to approve the application with changes in findings, and Chair Ron Rivers and Rich McBride voting no.  The fifth commissioner, Bob Benton, had declared a conflict of interest during the original Commission hearings on the subject last year.  The County Commission had approved the application a year ago after the County Planning Commission denied it, but the Hood River Valley Residents Committee appealed to LUBA, which sent it back to the County after ruling there were three assignments of error in the final decision.  Apollo can now appeal to LUBA.

The Dufur School District Board has approved placing a four million dollar bond measure on the ballot in November.  The move comes shortly after the district received word from the Oregon Department of Education it had received a commitment for four million dollars under the state’s School Capital Matching Grant program.  But to receive the money, the district must get the bond measure approved.  The estimated tax rate would be $1.71 per $1,000 of assessed property value.  A current bond in the Dufur School District for about $3.00 per $1,000 of assessed value will be retired in June 2018.  If approved, the bond and grant proceeds would fund safety and security upgrades, transportation redesign and renovation, energy efficiency improvements in district building, and maximize the usability of existing facilities.

The annual Hood River County Reads program is underway.  This year’s book is Moreno. Prieto. Brown. by Alejandro Jimenez, who came to the Hood River Valley from Mexico at the age of eight, grew up here, and now lives in Denver where he is a community activist.  Jean Harmon of Hood River County Reads says the book is a collection of 16 poems and one short story, much of it autobiographical.  Copies of the book are available at the Cascade Locks and Parkdale libraries, while those who have already received a copy and have finished reading it are asked to either return it or pass it on to someone else.  A series of Hood River County Reads events will be taking place in April, for information go online to hoodriverlibrary.org.

Baseball Hood River Valley 4, Tualatin 3:  Connor Coerper hit a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Eagles to the win after losing four straight in Arizona.  Michael Hasegawa and Greyson Losee drew walks to start the inning to setup the game winner. Sandy 3, The Dalles 0:  The Pioneers limited the Riverhawks to two hits in grabbing the victory. Columbia sweeps Dufur 13-3 and 20-2.   Softball Hood River Valley 8, Clackamas 7:  Back to back doubles by Zoe Munn and Hannah McNerney in the bottom of the seventh inning plated the winning run for the Eagles, who have won ten straight to begin the season.  HRV came back from a 6-0 deficit after two-and-a-half innings.  Munn drove in three runs and McNerney and Lauren Decker two apiece. Sandy 12, The Dalles 9

North Wasco County School District 21 officials are anxiously awaiting a preliminary report coming out of a “civil rights audit” of The Dalles High School by the Oregon Department of Education on behalf of federal agencies.  What started as concern over an imbalance in the past school year in the number of boys enrolled in Career and Technical Education classes as opposed to girls evolved into a study of disabled access in the nearly 80-year-old building.  D-21 Superintendent Candy Armstrong says what the district may be asked to do, and the potential cost, has them concerned given the age of the facility.  Armstrong says when they receive the preliminary report, then discussions will begin with the state education department on what they expect the district to do, and how much it could cost.

It is “Blossom Time” in Hood River County.  The Hood River County Chamber of Commerce promotes the entire month of April as Blossom Time, which has developed over the years from one weekend.  Chamber Executive Director Michael Glover says expanding the season has brought dividends to the tourism sector, with transient room tax receipts showing the impact.  Glover notes the goal of Blossom Time is to get visitors into the mid and upper Hood River Valley and onto the Fruit Loop.  As part of the month, the Chamber’s annual Cider Fest is planned for April 21 in Odell.