The renovated Granada Theatre in The Dalles will reopen this weekend with a series of events.  Chuck Gomez and Debra Liddell, who own a similar historic theatre in Illinois, took possession of the Granada from the Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency in April.  Gomez says the building is ready to be open to the public with interior and exterior renovations.  Gomez says for long-term success the theatre has to build a local base, with private parties and corporate events as a focus as well as expanding into community theater, and the café will be open on a regular basis.  The Granada will hold a gala opening Friday night, followed by a concert tribute to Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley on Saturday and Afterglow Aerial Arts on Sunday.  For information go to granadatheatrethedalles.com.

Health officials are reminding people to get a flu shot as winter approaches.  Ian Stromquist of the Hood River County Health Department says getting a flu shot not only protects you, it protects others in the population who for some reason may not be able to get a flu shot.  Flu shots are available from local health providers and pharmacies.  The Hood River County Health Department will host a flu shot clinic this coming Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Parkdale Fire Department.  Bring insurance information to bill or, if you do not have insurance, the cost will be $20.

Volleyball:  Hood River Valley’s Katie Kennedy was named Player of the Year and Scott Walker Coach of the Year as the Eagles won the league title and went on to reach the final eight in the Oregon Class 5A tournament.  HRV’s Emily Curtis and Shae Duffy joined Kennedy as first team all-conference selections, with Hannah McNerney and Kennedy James tabbed to the second team.  Jodi Thomasian and Bailey LeBreton of The Dalles were also first team selections, while teammate Lindsi Logue was named to the second team.   Boys Soccer:  Robby Running of Hood River Valley was named Player of the Year and Matthew Dallman of The Dalles received Coach of the Year honors.  Other Hood River Valley first team selections included Westley Carter, Erik Siekkinen, and Saul Chavarria, while The Dalles is represented by Alberto Gallegos and Jake Roetcisoender.   The second team includes HRV’s Alejandro Rodriguez, Reese Carroll, Jack McCaffery, and Emy Perez, and The Dalles’ Reed Twidwell, Julian Quintana, and Pedro Lopez.   Girls Soccer:  Hood River Valley’s Kevin Haspela received Coach of the Year and HRV’s YaYa Chavarria shared Player of the Year with Pendleton’s Denisa Senkerikova.  HRV first teamers with Chavarria were Claire Davies, Ashlee Ponce, and Lauren Trumbull, with The Dalles represented by Victoria Barragan and Addie Klindt.  On the second team were Hood River’s Claire Oswald, Makena Zorza, Mira Olson, and Avrie VanTiburg, along with Molly Taylor and Courtney Hert of The Dalles.

At the conclusion of vote counts Wednesday.   Updated counts  to be released next week. City of White Salmon Levy Lid Lift For Pool Operations   Yes                                          327   No                                           153   Bingen Mayor   Betty Barnes                           58   Clinton Bryan                         20   Goldendale City Council Pos. 7   Justin Leigh                             378   Terry Luth                               185   White Salmon City Council Pos. 1   Ben Berger                              207   Ashley Post                             252   White Salmon City Council Pos. 3   Jason Sabourin                        203   Jason Hartmann                      197   White Salmon City Council Pos. 4   Dan Caldwell                          221   Amy Martin                            234   White Salmon City Council Pos. 5   Marla Keethler                        240   Maurice Tunstall Jr.                 223     Hospital District 1 Commissioner Pos. 2   Sherrill Basse                          813   Mark Sigfrinius                       1,004   Hospital District 2 Commissioner Pos. 5   Karleen Swarztrauber             1,184   Howard Kreps                        857   Wishram School District Board Pos. 5   Jeri Ruefer-Hore                     52   Peter Leon                               24   Trout Lake School District Board Pos. 2   Joe Dean                                 165   James Jensen                           72   Goldendale School District Board Pos. 4   John Hoctor                            907   T.J. Wilder                              633   Stevenson-Carson School District Board Pos. 2   Callae Hansen                         510   Farley Dudley                         717   Stevenson City Council Pos. 2   Bradlee Seehafer                     122   Amy Weissfeld                       207  

Former Oregon State 59th District Representative John Huffman has been appointed as the new State Director for U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development in Oregon.  Huffman had announced in the summer he would not be seeking re-election to the House in anticipation of the appointment, and officially submitted a resignation letter on October 26.  Huffman will now oversee USDA Rural Development programs in the state.  The appointment announcement was part of a host of Rural Development and Farm Service Agency state director appointments made by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue.  USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to develop economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas.  The assistance supports infrastructure improvements, business development, home ownership, community services like education, public safety, and healthcare, and high-speed internet access in rural areas.

The Oregon Department of Transportation says the rock blasting planned for Wednesday on Interstate 84 at milepost 53 has been postponed.  The blasting would have been the fifth in a series of as many as seven blasts necessary to build the latest segment of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail.  No date for resumption of the blasting has been set but it won’t take place until next week at the earliest.

A single vehicle accident involving a truck hauling a manufactured home blocked westbound lanes of Interstate 84 in Hood River for about 90 minutes Monday morning.  According the Oregon State Police, a preliminary investigation indicated the truck was exiting the freeway at exit 63 when for an unknown reason it veered to the left and entered the unpaved shoulder of the freeway, striking the exit 63 sign and two fog markers before coming to rest blocking the westbound lanes of travel.  The truck operator, 36-year-old Michael Cannon of Hermiston, was taken by ambulance to Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital for treatment of injuries.  The accident occurred just before 9:30 Monday morning.  Oregon Department of Transportation assisted at the scene by diverting traffic off the exit and back onto I 84 westbound.  The crash remains under investigation.

The Hood River County School District has added a coaching stipend for middle school boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball, and track for this school year.  Middle school coaching was cut from the district budget in 2010.  District Superintendent Dan Goldman says the opportunity to restore the stipends came about as the district has been able to restore other program elements lost during the recession.  He noted while volunteer coaches have stepped up to help fill those roles, it did create difficulties for students who wanted to take part.  Goldman praised the volunteers who have stepped up to provide coaching in the middle schools.  Middle school athletic coordinators are now recruiting paid coaches and volunteers to help develop student-athletes.

Dallesport Elementary School is being honored with a School of Distinction Award from the Center for Educational Effectiveness for sustained improvement in English language arts, math, and graduation rates over the last five years.  Dallesport Elementary, a school with 70% of its students living in poverty, experienced a 580% improvement, from the 5th percentile to 34th in ELA/math scores.  98 schools in Washington State have been honored by the Center for Educational Effectiveness and their partner organizations for continuous and substantive improvement.  School of Distinction honorees are selected using OSPI reported data from the data downloads section of the state report card.  A school must have data in at least three of five years to be considered–one of which must be 2017.  “Improvement” is defined as the slope of linear trend over the five years.

Ballots must be dropped off or postmarked by the end of Tuesday’s election in the state of Washington.  Drop boxes will be available until 8 p.m. Tuesday.  In Klickitat County ballots can be taken to the County Auditor’s office at the Courthouse or drop boxes at the corner of South Columbus and West Court in Goldendale, the White Salmon Pioneer Center, Dallesport Community Center, Roosevelt School, Lyle Lions Club, Wishram Park Place, and in Klickitat at Depot Park.  Locations in Skamania County include the Auditor’s Office and the north side entrance of the Courthouse in Stevenson, near North Bonneville City Hall, Carson Transit Station, Little Church of the Valley in Stabler, and the Underwood Community Center.  Tuesday’s vote in Washington is highlighted by votes on a large number of municipal offices.