Searchers have found the body of a skier who was reported missing at Mt. Hood Meadows last week.  The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office says the body of 57-year-old Steve Leavitt of The Dalles was spotted late Wednesday afternoon and recovered Thursday morning.  A preliminary investigation into Leavitt’s death by the Sheriff’s Office suggests that Leavitt died after impact with a tree.  Leavitt was reported missing late last Tuesday…and searchers spend four days looking for him before the search was scaled back over the weekend.  Leavitt was last seen when his ski pass was scanned last Tuesday morning on the Heather Canyon Chair Lift.  The area in which Leavitt went missing is double black diamond and recommended for expert skiers only.  Leavitt was described as very familiar with that area and was an avid skier.

White Salmon City Councilors decided against adopting a “declaration of diversity” resolution at their meeting Wednesday evening.  The decision came after Councilors heard about an hour’s worth of testimony from 35 different people.  Mayor David Poucher says in the end Councilors felt the resolution would get them involved in partisan politics, and they didn’t want to go there. Poucher added he feels the City treats all people with respect, and their law enforcement has never gotten involved in immigration issues.

The Columbia Gorge Community College Board of Education decided they wanted to take testimony in Hood River before making a decision on a resolution to declare the school a “sanctuary campus.”  The board took testimony on the subject at a meeting in The Dalles this week, but felt it should offer an opportunity for more input at a meeting in the Hood River area in April.  A location for that meeting is still to be determined.  Under the resolution that has been proposed by a group of faculty and staff members, CGCC would not share the immigration records of students or assist the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Immigration & Customs Enforcement with enforcement of federal immigration laws.

Oregon 52nd State Representative Mark Johnson feels there is a good chance the Port of Hood River will get money to help in its effort to plan for replacement of the Interstate Bridge.  Johnson says a pair of bills have been drawn up to set the Port up to receive about five million dollars to complete the funding package for an environmental impact statement.  Johnson noted getting the state funds would set the Port up to start receiving significant federal support.

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden will hold a town hall meeting in Hood River on Saturday, March 25.  The town hall will be at the Hood River Middle School auditorium at 11 a.m.  Meanwhile, a group of seven different Gorge area advocacy groups say they will hold a town hall meeting in Hood River on April 8 at 4:30 p.m.  The groups claim Oregon Second District Congressman Greg Walden has not responded to calls for him to hold a town hall to address constituent concerns.  They say Walden has been invited to attend.

Softball Liberty at The Dalles, postponed to today at 4:30 p.m.   Boys Tennis Redmond at The Dalles, postponed   Girls Tennis Redmond 6, The Dalles 2:  Robin Pasbek won in singles for the Riverhawks while Kianna Pielli and Abby Minnick won in doubles.

Oregon Second District Congressman Greg Walden advocated modernizing America’s hydropower infrastructure during a subcommittee hearing.  The Hood River Republican chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee.  Walden told the group at the hearing that there are opportunities to expand hydropower across the country but there are regulatory challenges to deal with.  Walden added the electricity generated by hydropower is “as clean and renewable as it gets,” and there needs to be greater transparency and accountability in the regulatory processes affecting hydropower.

Hood River County businesses may be eligible for low-interest long term Small Business Adminstration loans to help them recover from economic impacts of lost revenue as result of January’s winter storms.  The County declared a winter storm emergency for January, and the state declared a statewide emergency January 8-20.  At least five Hood River County businesses need to show interest in pursuing this loan program and send a form or letter to Hood River County to request this state program be activated.  If you are interested in applying, contact Hood River County Emergency Manager Barbara Ayers at 541-386-1213.  Deadline to apply is March 23.

Maryhill Museum of Art opened today for its 2017 season.  One of this year’s special exhibitions is called Something For Everyone:  New Treasures from the Permanent Collection.  Museum Executive Director Colleen Schafroth says it features new items acquired by curator Steve Grafe since 2010.  This year at Maryhill will also feature ancient Greek ceramics on display, along with artwork showing all aspects of the American West, and black and white prints showing construction photos of the Maryhill highway and early scenic views of the Gorge.  Maryhill Museum of Art will be open daily from ten to five.

The White Salmon Valley School District plans to apply with the state for a waiver of classroom hours requirements after losing 11 school days to snowy conditions over the winter.  District Superintendent Jerry Lewis says Washington Governor Jay Inslee had already issued an emergency proclamation to allow cancellation of five days because of the difficult winter weather the state experienced.  Lewis noted the district used its three built-in make-up days and added two days to the end of the school year.  Lewis says the waivers have been approved routinely around the state.  He adds the White Salmon district waited to make the application until now because it can only be done once, and they wanted to make sure there was no more snowy weather before submitting it.