The Columbia Gorge Community College Board of Education will be considering next month approval of an eight-point-nine million dollar budget for 2017-18.  The CGCC budget committee recommended approval of the fiscal plan earlier this week.  CGCC spokesman Dan Spatz says this budget gets back to ending the fiscal cycle with a $400,000 projected cash carryover, which was a strong recommendation of the budget committee.  Spatz added the school is projecting a five percent increase in enrollment over the next school year, which would amount to 44 students.

A man facing a murder charge in the stabbing death of a 71-year-old woman in The Dalles made a brief appearance in Wasco County Circuit Court on Tuesday, and his attorney said he believes the man can’t assist in his own defense.  25-year-old Garrett Brennan is charged with murder in the death of Charlene Caldwell.  Brennan’s attorney, Peter Parnickis, told Judge Karen Ostrye that he expects to have a report from a psychologist soon that will indicate Brennan is unable to aid and assist in his own defense.  Brennan’s next court appearance will be on May 22.  Meanwhile another man charged with murder in The Dalles, 20-year-old Zoey Pike, also made a brief court appearance, with his attorney indicating it will be about six weeks before Pike will be ready to enter a plea.  He is scheduled to return to court June 6.  Pike is accused in the January stabbing death of 21-year-old Nathaniel Preyapongpisan.

A 20-year-old Goldendale man fell to his death from a cliff in Hood River after attempting to evade police in the Westcliff Drive area.  The body of Edwin Charge, Jr. was discovered Monday morning by a Union Pacific employee.  A Hood River Police Department spokesman says Charge had run across Interstate 84 after officers responded to a Cascade Avenue business Sunday afternoon to investigate a theft involving three people.  A Westcliff Drive resident advised police a man matching Charge’s description had gone on his property and was last seen running eastbound.  Police did not attempt to pursue Charge due to the dangerous terrain in the area.  The fall was ruled accidental.  The other two suspects involved in the theft were arrested and lodged at NORCOR.

A 27 year old Seattle woman reported missing over a month ago was found dead Monday evening in the Columbia River in Hood River.  The Hood River Police Department says Holly Lester had been missing since March 15.  Lester was reported missing from the Port area in Hood River on March 18.  Lester had been traveling with her boyfriend and another male at the time.  Police say the investigation is ongoing.  The cause and manner of death are pending toxicology and autopsy results.

There is still over a month left in the current school year, but area school districts are getting ready for 2017-18, and both North Wasco County School District 21 and the Hood River County School District will be holding Kindergarten Roundups next week.  It’s the time for parents to register their children for next year’s kindergarten classes.  In D-21, Superintendent Candy Armstrong notes they have limited space at Colonel Wright Elementary School.  Both districts will take kindergarten registrations next week at local elementary schools.  More information is available at district websites and from individual schools.

The eleventh annual Gorge Artists Open Studios Tour will take place throughout the region this coming weekend.  One of the participating artists, Abigail Merickel, says it is a free self-guided tour involving 40 different artists and allows people to go into the studios and see how they develop their work.  Artists’ studios from Cascade Locks to The Dalles and Parkdale to Trout Lake are taking part, and will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  For maps and more information go to gorgeartists.org.

The City of Hood River’s budget committee holds its first meeting to look at the municipal fiscal plan for 2017-18 Wednesday evening.  City Manager Steve Wheeler says the City is in good fiscal shape heading into the budget process, and there is $150,000 earmarked to pay in part for replacement of the play structure at Children’s Park.  The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the Hood River Fire Hall at 1785 Meyer Parkway.  In other business, the City Council named former Mayor Arthur Babitz to fill a vacancy on the municipal planning commission.

Baseball Hood River Valley 4, Pendleton 3:  Adam Cameron homered as the Eagles finished a sweep of the Buckaroos and moved two games in front in the Columbia River Conference. Hermiston 9, The Dalles 0 LaCenter 17, Columbia 6 Sherman sweeps Culver 8-3 and 9-7. Lyle-Wishram sweeps White Swan 17-1 and 13-0. Goldendale sweeps Granger 19-3 and 21-0.   Softball Pendleton at Hood River Valley:  The game was suspended due to rain after three-and-a-half innings with Pendleton leading 4-0.  The game will resume in the bottom of the fourth inning prior to the two teams’ scheduled game on May 9 in Hood River. Hermiston 8, The Dalles 3 Lyle-Wishram split a doubleheader with White Swan, losing game one 17-4 but winning the nightcap 17-15.   Boys Soccer Stevenson 2, Castle Rock 0 Toledo 3, Columbia 0   Girls Lacrosse Hood River Valley 16, Central Catholic 4

Hood River’s Children’s Park is on track to reopen by May 22.  City Manager Steve Wheeler says repair work has been done to allow about 75 percent of the Children’s Park to reopen, and they are waiting on getting new base material put down.  But Wheeler adds it is clear the play structure needs to be replaced after this year. The next step is to focus on finding funds for replacement.  Wheeler has included $150,000 for the project in his proposed 2017-18 budget, adding the Hood River Vallley Parks and Recreation District is going to try to find a way to help with systems development charge money and the Rotary Club has agreed to be the non-profit to collect donations.

After a lengthy discussion, The Dalles City Council voted to grant a request for a 50 percent reduction of systems development charges for Mid-Columbia Center for Living as it builds a new facility at 10^th and Webber.  Many councilors were initially reticent to grant the reductions, particularly for transportation SDC’s that City staff had already granted a 50 percent reduction of as authorized by an ordinance passed by the Council in 2010.  Councilors noted the need to have a discussion about the policy in light of City goals to build the SDC funds for future infrastructure needs.  But Councilor Darcy Long-Curtiss pointed out Mid-Columbia Center for Living was requesting the same treatment that fellow non-profit One Community Health received two years ago.  The Mid-Columbia Center for Living building is being constructed partially through Community Development Block Grant funds, with the agency borrowing the rest of the money.