Washington Governor Jay Inslee has signed 14th District Representative Gina McCabe’s bill lowering the fine incurred by individuals who fail to use a certified installer on a mobile or manufactured home installation.  House Bill 1329 lowers the fine imposed by the Department of Labor and Industries from $1,000 to $250 for the first infraction, and would prevent subsequent infractions from exceeding $1,000 per violation.  McCabe says many mobile or manufactured homeowners cannot afford a $1,000 fine.  She worked with Labor and Industries to develop the legislation.  House Bill 1329 will go into effect 90 days after the adjournment of the 2017 legislative session.

Northern Wasco County PUD will be accepting applications for its economic development grant programs through May 5.  Applicants must document non-profit status, not be a religious affiliated entity, and have not been funded more than twice in any five year period.  Projects shall be for infrastructure or property with a life expectancy of at least five years and are located within the Northern Wasco County PUD service area.  There is a limitation of $20,000 per application.  Applications may be obtained from the Northern Wasco County PUD Office located at 2345 River Road in The Dalles or online at nwasco.com.  Information is available by calling 541-298-3302.

Northern Wasco PUD board members formally received a staff recommendation for rate increases during a special meeting Monday, calling for a 9.13% increase in residential rates.  That includes a $5 increase in the flat fee and a 4% increase in the per kilowatt hour price, which means the typical customer would see their power bill go up by $7 per month.  PUD General Manager Roger Kline says the last rate adjustment came in 2013 after a cost of service analysis, and that was the first to take place in thirteen years.  He adds there are multiple reasons for the need to increase rates, including dealing with infrastructure needs and offsetting Bonneville Power Administration cost increases.  The PUD board will vote on the increase at their meeting next Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the PUD board room on 2345 River Road in The Dalles.  If approved, the rate increase would go into effect in May.

Hood River County Commissioners received a surprise when receiving a report on the costs to realignment of Tucker Road at Nobi’s Corner and the Windmaster/Country Club intersection.  The Oregon Department of Transportation estimate for the project has gone from about $3,200,000 to around $4,000,000.  The County has to provide a 10% match, and Commission Chair Ron Rivers says the increase would cause that share to go beyond the $350,000 the County has budgeted for it.  Commissioners received seven options on how to proceed from Public Works Director Mikel Diwan, and they chose to have staff go back and talk with ODOT about just doing the Nobi’s Corner portion of the project, which would cost about $2,000,000.

Oregon Second District Congressman Greg Walden has introduced a bill to implement a pilot program for medical scribes at VA facilities.  The Hood River Republican says that will help ease administrative burdens that are preventing physicians from devoting their full attention to veterans.  Walden says studies have shown that the use of medical scribes in the private sector resulted in a 59 percent increase in the number of patients physicians see per hour.  He adds the bill is also intended to better recruit and retain talented physicians to serve at VA health centers.

Boys Lacrosse Hood River Valley 20, Wilsonville 9:  The Eagles move their record to 3-2 on the season.   Girls Golf The Dalles finished eighth in the Bend Invitational.  Abby Walker had the low score for the Riverhawks at the Bend Golf and Country Club.   Track and Field Allison Gilliam won the 100 meter hurdles and the boys’ 4 by 400 meter relay team was victorious for Goldendale in an eight-school meet in Royal.

The Northwest Cherry Festival is this weekend in The Dalles.  The usual array of events are planned from Friday afternoon through Sunday, centered around the downtown area.  But one new event will be an agricultural job fair, put on by a number of area growers and producers.  The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson says they wanted to do something to help ag employers during the Cherry Fest.  The job fair will be open from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Washington and Second Street.  Employers who would like to take part should call The Dalles Chamber at 541-296-2231.

The Port of Hood River’s budget committee meets to discuss the 2017-18 fiscal year Tuesday, and the question of raising the toll for the Interstate Bridge will come up again.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says whether the Port can generate the state and federal support to replace the bridge or has to maintain it for another 30 years, there is a need to generate the funds required for either possibility.  McElwee adds to keep the current bridge operational, the Port will need 48 million dollars in the next 15 years based on a 30-year model that the Port recently developed.  The Port budget committee meets at noon on Tuesday in the Marina Center boardroom.

Baseball Hood River Valley sweeps Hermiston 1-0 and 14-10:  Connor Coerper pitched a one-hitter while Lucas Viuhkola drove in the winning run in the opener, while Greyson Losee drove in four runs for HRV in the nightcap. Pendleton sweeps The Dalles 7-6 and 13-7:  The Buckaroos scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to win game one, and then scored seven in the fifth to win game two. King’s Way Christian 8, Columbia 1 LaCenter 1, Stevenson 0 Dufur sweeps Elgin 1-0 and 10-5 Sherman sweeps Union 12-2 and 19-2. Dayton sweeps Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 10-0 and 5-2.   Softball Hood River Valley sweeps Hermiston 6-0 and 6-4:  The Eagles scored all six of their runs in the sixth inning of game one to back Hannah McNerney’s shutout.  HRV came back in game two with two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to win. Pendleton sweeps The Dalles 7-2 and 12-0. Dayton sweeps Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 36-0 and 22-0.   Track and Field Hood River Valley’s girls were fifth and the boys seventh at the Viking Relays at North Salem.  Katie Kennedy finished second in the girls’ 100 meter hurdles to provide the top finish of the day for HRV.   Lyle-Wishram’s boys were third to provide the top team finish by Columbia Gorge-area schools at the River’s Edge Invitational in Boardman, as Brandon Montoya won the 100 and 200 meters and the long jump.  South Wasco’s Ana Popchock won the girls’ long jump and triple jump.   Julian Hernandez finished third in the boys’ javelin to provide the top finish for The Dalles at the Willamette Falls Invitational at Oregon City   Stevenson won both the boys and girls titles at its own Al McKee Invitational.  The Bulldogs’ Lincoln Krog won a pair of boys’ events, while Columbia’s Alondra Casarez-Garcia and Trout Lake’s Liz Fink each won three girls’ events.   Boys Soccer Seton Catholic 2, Columbia 1 Toledo 8, Stevenson 1   Boys Tennis Goldendale 4, White Swan 0   Girls Tennis Hood River Valley finished fifth at the Steve Rankin Invitational in Madras.  America Flores and Crystal Flores finished second in number two doubles. The Dalles 6, Madras 2 Goldendale 5, White Swan 0   Girls Lacrosse Hood River Valley 13, Clackamas 3:  Kathryn Koenig scored three goals as the Eagles move to 4-3 on the season.

The Dalles High School Principal Nick Nelson has been named the Oregon High School Principal of the Year by the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators.  Nelson received the award at Thursday’s North Wasco County School District 21 board meeting.  D-21 Superintendent Candy Armstrong nominated him for the award, saying he has been a tremendous leader in improvement of the academic direction of The Dalles High School.  Nelson will be honored in June at the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators convention in Seaside, and is eligible for the National High School Principal of the Year award.