The Dalles City Council is planning to hold a worksession on tourism, and how transient room taxes in the city get used, early in 2018.  Councilors discussed the potential formation of a tourism commission, something that came out of two prior town halls on the subject earlier this year, but instead rolled back to taking more input.  Mayor Steve Lawrence, who favors the establishment of some kind of tourism committee, says there will be active participants in the tourist industry invited to take part.  No date has been set yet for the worksession.  The City currently contracts with The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce for tourism marketing services.

Portland State University’s population estimate for the City of Hood River went up by one-and-a-half percent to 7,880, but that may be a bit low.  City Manager Steve Wheeler says they are unsure if recently annexed areas were included in that estimate, and the City is looking into that.  He adds the population data is used for planning purposes, and there is a financial element, as it a factor in state disbursement of some tax funds.  In other business, the Hood River City Council received a clean audit report for municipal government in the 2016-17 fiscal year.

Boys Basketball Hood River Valley 69, Gresham 68:  J.J. Mears scored on a driving lay-in with just over four seconds left to give the Eagles the win.  HRV came back from a nine point deficit in the fourth quarter to win its third straight game.  Erik Siekkinen led the Eagles with 15 points while Carson Flores scored 13 and Jonah Tactay 12.  Christian Turner topped Gresham with 25. The Dalles 62, Ridgeview 46:  Jacob Hernandez scored 18 points and Dakota Murr 15 as the Riverhawks snapped a two-game losing streak. Columbia 66, Lyle-Wishram 60 Washougal 82, Stevenson 73 Dufur 49, Klickitat-Glenwood 31 Sherman 62, Trinity Lutheran 48 South Wasco 40, Monument-Dayville 28 Sunnyside Christian 98, Trout Lake 38 Highland 60, Goldendale 56   Girls Basketball Hood River Valley 51, Gresham 20 Ridgeview 47, The Dalles 46 Columbia 46, Lyle-Wishram 28 Dufur 50, Klickitat-Glenwood 43 South Wasco 48, Monument-Dayville 31 Sunnyside Christian 75, Trout Lake 20

The Hood River City Council received a report from Oregon Kitchen Table out of Portland State University that gathered viewpoints on the City’s continuing affordable housing issues, with a particular focus on underrepresented community members.  City Manager Steve Wheeler says the intent of it was not meant to be a statistically valid survey, but instead seek out voices that may not get a chance to be heard.  Much of the response in the report came from the area’s Spanish-speaking community.  The report indicates the majority of people in Hood River want to see different types of housing for different income levels and life stages within the City, but also many different values and beliefs about housing issues, and that the City will need to plan with other cities and counties in the region to address the topic.  Wheeler says the information will be used by the City Council and Planning Commission as background material for housing issues.

The gas tax increase approved by the 2017 Oregon Legislature as part of a state-wide transportation package should help Wasco County’s road program.  Arthur Smith of Wasco County Public Works says the County in the last two years has been able to increase the pace of pavement maintenance to 30 miles per year, and will be able to sustain that with the new transportation funding along with addressing gravel roads, adding it will take time.  Smith says there are major road projects identified in a 2009 transportation system plan update that the County has not had the resources to take on, and he says they would like to begin to address those, but that probably will not happen for a few more years.  The state’s gas tax goes up by four cents in 2018, and will increase incrementally by ten cents over the next eight years.

The new Columbia Gorge Food Bank, which will be serve as a warehouse and distributor for 17 different hunger relief organizations in Wasco, Hood River, and Sherman counties, will hold its formal grand opening next week.  Sharon Thornberry of the Oregon Food Bank says for the last two years they have used the docks at Polehn Farms to handle deliveries, and the new facility has a cooler, freezer, and appropriate storage space.  Thornberry adds the new warehouse will also be able to maintain a supply of food and water in the event of a disaster.  A ribbon cutting at the new facility on 3610 Crates Way in The Dalles will take place next Tuesday at 12:15 p.m., with an open house from noon to 4 p.m.

Hood River County has received the results of a survey on whether citizens would be receptive to a sales and tourist tax to help fund county services.  County Administrator Jeff Hecksel says 53 percent of respondents were against a two percent sales tax and 42 percent said they would vote for it, while if it was coupled with a property tax reduction 51 percent still said no to 46 percent in favor.  Commission Chair Ron Rivers says they will take the results back to the full Commission to discuss where they go from here, noting the County is facing a budget shortfall in the coming fiscal year.  Hecksel added respondents listed roads and bridges, public safety, public health, and parks and trails as the County services most important to them.

Applications for Gorge Works inaugural paid regional internship and apprenticeship opportunities will be available on Friday.  The application period will continue through the end of January.  Port of The Dalles Executive Director Andrea Klaas says there are nine different businesses offering internships in this initial round.  Gorge Works applicants don’t have to be currently involved in an education program.  High school or college coursework, hobbies, work experience, volunteer activities and other means can provide the basis of experience or interest needed for some of the positions.  In most cases, but not all, participants must be at least 18 years old to qualify.  Applications will be available online at gorgeworks.com beginning on Friday.

The Historic Columbia River Highway was closed early Monday morning between Larch Mountain Road and Bridal Veil because trees and other debris have fallen and blocked the road.  High winds and continuing debris fall have made the road unsafe for cleanup crews and there is no timeline for reopening.  The Oregon Department of Transportation was planning to reassess conditions Monday.  The closure points are staffed and local residents are being allowed in as possible.

Boys Basketball Hood River Valley 72, LaGrande 60 Hood River Valley 65, Redmond 40:  HRV wins the Madras Tournament. Sisters 57, The Dalles 43 Columbia 64, Highland 39 Forks 73, Stevenson 50 Damascus Christian 63, Dufur 35 Powder Valley 61, Dufur 55 Pacific 61, South Wasco 26 Powers 34, South Wasco 32 Trout Lake 50, City Christian 35 River View 68, Goldendale 27 Royal 78, Goldendale 55   Girls Basketball Hood River Valley 52, Redmond 43 (overtime):  The Eagles came from 15 points down in the fourth quarter to force overtime, then dominated the extra four minutes to earn the win.  Lauren Orr scored 20 points while Haylee Baker and Emily Curtis added 11 apiece to lead HRV, while Redmond’s Ava Kitchin scored 20 points before fouling out with a little over three minutes to play. Glencoe 53, The Dalles 23 Dufur 45, Damacus Christian 31 Powder Valley 61, Dufur 23 South Wasco 55, Pacific 31 South Wasco 51, Powers 19:  South Wasco wins Pacific Tournament Stevenson 79, Lyle-Wishram 41 Highland 47, Columbia 15 River View 60, Goldendale 35 Goldendale 51, Royal 41   Wrestling Columbia was second, Hood River Valley third, Stevenson fourth, and Goldendale fifth in the Bruin Interstate Invitational in White Salmon.   Washougal won the team title.   Nordic Skiing Hood River Valley’s boys were fourth in the first Northern League Nordic ski race of the season at Mt. Bachelor.  Muir Emmons was the top HRV finisher in 12^th.  HRV was sixth in the girls’ race, with Chloe Bullock finishing 20^th.