The Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency board voted to delay default on a loan taken out by Sunshine Mill owner James Martin for building improvements and repairs on the property for 90 days to allow discussions to restructure the loan with a goal of the agency being repaid in full.  Martin had requested the agency forgive the $350,000 loan payment due May 15, but most of the board indicated they wanted the money repaid in full.  The vote for the 90 day delay was five to three, with John Fredrick, Linda Miller, and Steve Kramer opposed, and came after the board rejected two options Martin had submitted that called for forgiveness of that loan and a restructuring of a payment schedule for a $309,000 land sale agreement that comes due in May of next year.  Martin gave a lengthy presentation before the board deliberations, citing the jobs and other benefits that have come from redevelopment of Sunshine Mill, noting that a three-month issue with a supplier for the Copa di Vino single serving wine product produced there had led to a cash flow issue, adding his development had been unable to take advantage of urban renewal programs now available to other businesses.  Sunshine Mill and Copa di Vino are separate business entities.  The decision requires Sunshine Mill to pay three $10,000 interest only payments over the next three months.

Baseball King’s Way Christian 13, Stevenson 3   Boys Tennis Hood River Valley 5, The Dalles 3   Girls Lacrosse Hood River Valley 16, Summit 2:  Katherine Koenig scored six goals and Katherine McElderry four to lead the Eagles in the win.    

Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Washington Congresswoman Jamie Herrera-Beutler are among the co-sponsors of a bipartisan bill introduced in both the Senate and House to extend payments to counties with federal forestlands for two years.  The bill would extend payments to counties through the Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Act, which was not extended for 2017.  The last SRS funds were paid to counties in March 2016.  The payments support public schools, public roads, forest health projects, emergency services and law enforcement in more than 700 counties nationwide.  A number of Senators and Representatives from western states are supporting the legislation.

Brian Schimel has been selected as North Wasco County School District 21’s new human resources director.  Schimel is currently executive director at Mosier Community School, and has been in that role since July 2013.  He has also worked in various roles in the Hermiston, Athena-Weston, and Umatilla school districts.  Schimel will begin his new job with D-21 at the start of July.

The North Wasco County School District 21 Budget Committee passed the fiscal plan for the 2017-18 school year Tuesday evening, but it would surprise no one if it must be adjusted when the Oregon Legislature settles on a final state school financing number for the upcoming biennium.  D-21 Chief Financial Officer Randy Anderson developed the budget using a state funding number of eight-point-one billion dollars.  Anderson says while the number he used is below the eight-point-four billion dollar state funding figure most school officials say is needed to maintain the status quo, the D-21 budget does not include any teacher or program cuts.  The budget will go to the D-21 board next month.

Hood River should have a new dog park open to the public sometime this summer.  The Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District is arranging no-cost leases of City and Port owned property adjacent to the municipal wastewater treatment plant at the west end of Portway Avenue.  District Director Mark Hickok says they have a few things to do to get the property ready for the dogs, including moving a fence going through the middle of the property and fencing the perimeter of it, ensure dogs can’t dig or jump out, and construct an area leading to the water so owners can throw balls out into the water for their dog to chase.  The property involved is about one acre in size.  

A group seeking to establish a 600-seat performing arts center in the Gorge continues to work toward its goal, including identifying a site to build on.  Mark Steighner of the Performing Arts Initiative says a final feasibility study should be ready in about a week, but it shows 70 percent of the operating costs could be covered by ticket sales.  He also says they are negotiating to lease three parcels of land on Westcliff Drive to locate the facility.  The group has established its non-profit status.  Steighner says their next step is to hire a project manager and a capital campaign planner.  The project does have a website:  gorgeperformingarts.org.

Fire destroyed a home in the 8700 block of Dog River Road in Parkdale on Tuesday.  Parkdale Rural Fire Protection District Chief Mike McCafferty says the two-story wood frame home was fully involved when firefighters arrived at around 9:50 a.m., with the fire extending to a car and external buildings.  No one was home when the fire was reported.  Three adults and one child lived in the house, and the American Red Cross reported it was offering assistance to them.  McCafferty says the house is a total loss, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.  He added neighbors indicated the fire started in the garage.  Hood River, Westside, Wy’east, and Cascade Locks fire departments assisted in the firefighting effort.

Baseball Hood River Valley 10, The Dalles 2:  Trevor Lariza hit two home runs and drove in five runs to lead the Eagles to the victory that clinched their third straight Columbia River Conference title.  Greyson Losee struck out 10 while pitching a complete game on the mound. Castle Rock 4, Columbia 3 Sherman 3, Pilot Rock 2 Goldendale splits with LaSalle, winning game one 9-4 and falling in game two 8-3:  The Timberwolves clinched fourth place in the SCAC West, and will host Warden in a district play-in game on Friday.   Softball Hood River Valley 6, The Dalles 0:  Hannah McNerney pitched her second shutout against the Riverhawks in four days.  HRV keeps pace with Pendleton atop the Columbia River Conference standings.  Pendleton rolled by Hermiston 10-1. LaSalle sweeps Goldendale 18-3 and 17-7.   Boys Soccer Columbia 1, King’s Way Christian 0:  The Bruins move into third place in the Trico League.   Boys Tennis Goldendale 2, Zillah 2   Girls Tennis Goldendale 4, Zillah 1   Girls Lacrosse Hood River Valley 15, Cleveland 1

A 27-year-old Dufur man was arraigned Tuesday on various sex abuse charges.  The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office arrested Ty Lee Wyman in his home.  Wyman was lodged at the Northern Oregon Regional Corrections Facility in The Dalles, with bail set at $40,000.  The Sheriff’s Office says the investigation is on-going, and anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 541-506-2580.