North Wasco County School District 21 has reached a tentative labor contract agreement with its education support professionals.  D-21 Chief Financial Officer Randy Anderson says both the D-21 board and the union still must ratify the deal.  Anderson expects the D-21 board will ratify the contract at their next meeting on December 14.  He adds discussions to reach a contract agreement with the district’s teachers are continuing.

Boys Basketball Redmond 66, Hood River Valley 63 Lyle-Wishram 68, Columbia 49 Lyle-Wishram 56, Dufur 47 Nixyaawii 48, Dufur 35 Hudson’s Bay 79, Stevenson 60 Sherman 70, Stanfield 41 Sherman 83, Grant Union 52: Sherman wins its tournament Prairie City 63, Trout Lake 58 North Lake 51, South Wasco 26 Trout Lake 56, South Wasco 21: Trout Lake third in South Wasco tourney Horizon Christian 56, Damascus Christian 41 Trinity Lutheran 55, Horizon Christian 42:  Horizon second in its Hawk Invitational Joseph 56, Klickitat-Glenwood 40 Goldendale 81, Mabton 46   Girls Basketball The Dalles 53, Sandy 37 Hood River Valley 62, LaGrande 56 Madras 59, Hood River Valley 30:  HRV second in Madras Tournament Columbia 47, Lyle-Wishram 41 Dufur 49, Lyle-Wishram 16 Nixyaawii 68, Dufur 25 Hudson’s Bay 49, Stevenson 48 Sherman 39, Stanfield 35 Grant Union 90, Sherman 15:  Sherman second in its tournament South Wasco 48, North Lake 23 South Wasco 50, Prairie City 24:  South Wasco wins its tournament Prairie City 50, Trout Lake 30 North Lake 46, Trout Lake 34 Triad 52, Horizon Christian 38 Damascus Christian 48, Horizon Christian 30 Joseph 50, Klickitat-Glenwood 26 Mabton 74, Goldendale 30   Wrestling Hood River Valley grabbed four first place finishes at the Mt. Edgecumbe Invitational in Sitka, Alaska.  Ryan Zeller and Chad Muenzer tied for first at 132 pounds, Jason Shaner won the 138 pound division, and Adrian Ramirez was first at 285.  Gracie McCafferty was second in the girls’ 106 pound division.

A holiday sightseeing train operated by the Mount Hood Railroad had a minor derailment Friday evening.  According to the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office the train, which was carrying 214 passengers, had four cars come off the tracks north of Pine Grove, approximately three miles outside of Hood River, at 5:15 p.m.  There were no reported injuries, and the rail cars are upright.  Emergency crews assisted Mount Hood Railroad personnel. All passengers were helped off the train and transportation arranged to get them back to Hood River.

The Eagle Creek Fire was updated to 100 percent containment today following an official review.  Current incident commander Chris Harper says the change reflects a determination that the fire is not expected to grow beyond its perimeter, and is not the same as officially declaring the fire “out.”  He noted timber and other flammable natural materials may still be smoldering within the fire perimeter.  An incident commander with the U.S. Forest Service is still assigned to the fire and will continue to evaluate the situation.  The Forest Service’s Eagle Creek Fire closure, which includes numerous recreation sites in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and Mt. Hood National Forest, remains unchanged except for Multnomah Falls Lodge and front plaza, which opened Wednesday.  

The U.S. Senate unanimously has passed legislation sponsored by all four Oregon and Washington senators to enable the Bureau of Indian Affairs to make safety and sanitation improvements at tribal treaty fishing access sites along the Columbia River.  The Columbia River In-Lieu and Treaty Fishing Access Sites Improvement Act calls on the BIA to conduct a much-needed assessment of current safety and sanitation conditions at the sites in coordination with Columbia River Treaty Tribes.  It also authorizes the Bureau to work on improving conditions in several areas including structural improvements to restrooms, washrooms, and other buildings, safety improvements through wells and infrastructure to address fire concerns, electrical infrastructure to ensure safe hookups, and basic sewer and septic infrastructure.  The bill now goes to the House.

Hood River will kick off its Christmas season tonight with a parade and tree lighting downtown.  The parade starts at 6 p.m. on Seventh Avenue and Oak Street and heads downtown, ending at the Hood River News parking lot.  There will be a tree lighting and caroling at State and 2nd at 7 p.m.  The Hood River County Chamber of Commerce’s Hood River Holidays promotion is underway, and Chamber Executive Director Mike Glover says downtown Hood River provides a unique shopping experience.  Later in December, customer parking will be free throughout the city of Hood River from December 11th to the 25th.

Jeff Helfrich of Hood River has been appointed to the Oregon State House District 52 seat.  The 49-year-old was selected by a unanimous vote of Multnomah, Clackamas and Hood River County Commissioners to fill out the remainder of the term of Mark Johnson, who stepped down to become President and CEO of Oregon Business and Industries.  Helfrich has had a long career in law enforcement, including 25 years in community policing with the Portland Police Bureau, and served in the U.S. Air Force.  Helfrich has served as a member of the Cascade Locks City Council, Cascade Locks Planning Commission, Cascade Locks Budget and Charter Review Committee and Mid-Columbia Economic Development District Board of Directors.  The District 52 seat will be on the November 2018 ballot.

Boys Basketball Hood River Valley 65, Sandy 57 The Dalles 54, Reynolds 47 Stevenson 91, Horizon Christian 59 Columbia 68, Riverside 65 (overtime)   Girls Basketball The Dalles 43, Centennial 38 Sandy 36, Hood River Valley 31 Stevenson 58, Horizon Christian 43 Riverside 49, Columbia 16

The annual “Everyone Loves A Firefighter”…or ELFF…food drive is coming up in The Dalles and Dallesport next week, and the call has gone out for volunteers to help in the effort.  ELFF commander Eric Pyles of Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue says they need help as they collect canned food donations during the three nights of the drive next week.  The ELFF food drive starts in the east side of The Dalles on Tuesday night, continues in the west side of The Dalles on Wednesday evening, and finishes up in the Dallesport-Murdock area on Thursday night.  The drive takes place between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on all three nights.  To volunteer, call Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue at 541-296-9445, or show up at MCFR on Tuesday and Wednesday between 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., or go to the Dallesport-Murdock Fire Department on Thursday night at the same time.  MCFR, Dallesport-Murdock Fire Department, The Dalles Lions Club, St. Vincent dePaul, and the Salvation Army are all involved in the food collection effort.

Newly appointed Oregon State House District 59 Representative Daniel Bonham is in Salem getting a crash course in being a legislator.  Bonham was appointed one week ago by Wasco, Deschutes, Jefferson, and Wheeler County Commissioners to fill the remaining time on former Representative John Huffman’s term.  The Republican from The Dalles says he will run for the seat in the 2018 election, noting county commissioners indicated that was a key factor for them in making a selection.  Bonham says at this point one of his main goals is to get to know the various public officials and citizens within the 59th District, and educate himself on the issues important to them.