Fisheries managers have announced that the popular spring Chinook fishery on the Deschutes River will not open in 2017.  The spring Chinook fishery on the Deschutes is closed under permanent rule but opens in years with strong forecasted returns.  Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife district fish biologist Rod French says managers are predicting a very poor return of both hatchery and wild fish this season, so the closure will be in place in order to ensure that the hatchery is able to collect enough brood stock to meet production goals.  Things look somewhat better on the Hood River, where a modest hatchery spring Chinook fishery will open from April 15 to June 30 from the mouth to the mainstem confluence with the East Fork, and the West Fork from the confluence with the mainstem upstream to the angling deadline 200 feet downstream of Punchbowl Falls.  The weak returns on the Deschutes and Hood rivers are following the same trends that are predicted for rivers throughout the Columbia Basin.  French did say managers are predicting a strong return of fall Chinook to the Deschutes when the river reopens to Chinook fishing on August 1.

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden said today’s announcement of reduced Forest Service payments spotlight the need for Congress to act quickly to reauthorize Secure Rural Schools funding.  The lack of reauthorization has led the Forest Service to revert to making payments of just 25 percent of the federal timber sale revenue generated in each county.  For Hood River County, that means after receiving $799,542 in 2016 it will receive only $143,575 in 2017, and Wasco County’s payment will drop from $904,868 to $151,756.  Wyden says the reductions highlight the importance of restoring the support that Secure Rural Schools has provided, adding he will be working for a long-term solution.

North Wasco County School District 21 officials have the same message for the Oregon Legislature that other K-12 educators around the state have been delivering:  any biennial budget that allocates less than eight-point-four billion dollars for Oregon schools over the next two years will result in cuts.  D-21 Chief Financial Officer Randy Anderson says he is starting out using the eight-point-oh-two billion dollar figure in Governor Kate Brown’s proposed budget.  Superintendent Candy Armstrong says if it’s under eight-point-four billion, cuts are coming one way or another.  Many legislators have indicated lawmakers will wait for the May revenue forecast before moving forward on K-12 budget decisions.

Transient room tax revenues for January in Hood River showed the occupancy rate was down from 2016 by about four percent, but revenue was up by four percent.  Hood River County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mike Glover says that’s reflects of the addition of the new Hampton Inn and Suites adding to the number of rooms available.  He finds those results encouraging during a month that featured icy and snowy conditions.  Glover adds coming off a hard winter, history shows once spring weather arrives Hood River benefits from pent-up demand and sees a quick influx of tourists from around the Northwest.

Maryhill Museum of Art has joined Museums for All, a program of the Association of Children’s Museums and the Institute of Museum and Library Services to enables low-income families to visit Maryhill Museum for a reduced rate of $2 per person with the presentation of an Electronic Benefits Transfer card.  Maryhill executive director Colleen Schafroth says the primary goal of Museums for All is to encourage families of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong appreciation for museums.  In addition to Museums for All, Maryhill will offer several other discounted and free admission programs.  Maryhill Museum of Art opens for the season next Wednesday.  Museum hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through November 15.

Alpine Skiing Hood River Valley won both the girls and combined boys and girls championships at the state high school alpine skiing championships at Mt. Hood Meadows.  HRV’s Josie Peterson was second and Erin Sutherland fifth in the individual combined to lead the Eagle girls to their championship.  HRV was second to Lakeridge in the boys’ standings, with Colson Zack, Chris McElwee, and Nash Levy finishing in the top 15 of the individual combined.  Martin Carter of The Dalles was 21^st.   Oregon Class 1A Boys Basketball Championship Sherman 78, Powder Valley 57:  The Huskies never trailed on the way to defending their state title.  Isaiah Coles scored 21 points, Max Martin 20, and Treve Martin 15 as the Huskies rolled to the win in Baker City.  Jacob Justensen scored nine points with ten rebounds and eight assists. Sherman shot well throughout the game, making 55 percent of its field goal attempts.  The Huskies won all four of their state playoff games by 21 points or more.   Oregon Class 1A Girls Basketball Third Place Game Adrian 50, Arlington 36  

Alpine Skiing Hood River Valley’s girls are in first after the giant slalom at the Oregon High School Ski Championships at Mount Hood Meadows.  The Eagles’ Josie Peterson was third individually while Erin Sutherland was fifth.   Lake Oswego is in second behind the Eagles in the team standings, while Lincoln is third.  In boys’ competition, HRV was second to Lakeridge after the slalom, with Colson Zack eleventh to lead a contingent of four Eagles in the top twenty.  Preston Klindt of The Dalles was 28^th.  Competition concludes today with the boys’ giant slalom and the girls’ slalom.   Oregon Class 1A Girls Basketball Tournament at Baker City Quarter-Final Arlington 44, Damascus Christian 42:  Arlington used a 14-4 third quarter run to grab the victory.  Shelby Collins and Emily Kirby had 10 points and eight rebounds each, while Megan Hauner also tallied 10 points.  Arlington meets top-ranked Nixyaawii in the semi-finals today at 1:30.

The Oregon Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee’s road show going out to the public in six different locations to hear their budget priorities has just wrapped up.  Senator Bill Hansell says while many special interests line up their speakers to testify. the legislators did hear from the general public as well.  He says in many ways right now people are protecting their own turf.  The 29th District Republican said while they heard from proponents of higher corporate taxes and not making any cuts, he said realistically that’s not going to happen, and while there may be some revenue considerations those won’t happen without finding more efficiencies in various departments.

A bill authored by Representative Gina McCabe of Goldendale to further penalize voyeurism received approval from the Washington State House Thursday.  McCabe’s bill addresses the practice of “upskirting,” where someone uses their mobile device to take a photo or record video under individuals’ skirts.  Under current law, it must be proven a person was engaged in voyeurism for the purpose of arousal or sexual gratification.  McCabe’s bill would eliminate that provision, and create a crime of voyeurism in the second degree.  House Bill 1200 moves on to the Senate for further consideration.

The Hood River County School District is using a combination of ways to make up for class time lost due to winter weather, and starting Monday the district will be adding time to each school day.  Starting on Monday elementary students will add five minutes per day by going to school from 7:40 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., middle school students add six minutes by going from from 8:30 to 3:36, and high schoolers add eight minutes with a schedule from 8:20 to 3:18.  Along with the elimination of Monday morning late starts beginning on March 6, and added school days on February 27, April 10, and June 14, 15 & 16, that will make up for the lost class time.  District bus schedules will change accordingly, check the district website for complete details.