The Hood River/White Salmon Interstate Bridge will be closed to all traffic late Wednesday and Thursday nights.  The four-hour, total closures will begin at 11:00 p.m. and continue through 3:00 a.m. the following morning.  Only emergency response vehicles will have access to the bridge during these hours.

Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue crews responded to a small fire early this morning along Interstate 84 near milepost 82.  The 30 foot by 30 foot fire was burning just after 4 a.m.  MCFR reports show crews were told by a homeless man that was camping at the fire site that he had built a small warming fire and then fell asleep.  When he awoke the fire had spread into the contents of his camp.  No one was injured in the fire.  MCFR Chief Bob Palmer issued a reminder that a burn ban remains in effect in Wasco County.

Volleyball Hood River Valley def. Pendleton 20-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-18:  The Eagles win despite missing two key players, and move into sole possession of first place in the Columbia River Conference.  HRV is now one match ahead of Pendleton with two to play, and also holds the tiebreaker by winning the season series over the Buckaroos. Hermiston def. The Dalles 27-25, 11-25, 23-25, 25-20, 15-11 Dufur def. Sherman 26-24, 20-25, 25-12, 25-16 South Wasco def. Ione 3 sets to 0   Boys Soccer Hood River Valley 2, The Dalles 1:  The Eagles move into first place in the Columbia River Conference on their own as Hermiston played to a 1-1 draw with Pendleton.   Girls Soccer Hood River Valley 5, The Dalles 0:  Makena Zorza scored twice as the Eagles took over first place in the Columbia River Conference.   Girls Water Polo Hood River Valley 13, Barlow 5

Oregon State 52nd District Representative Mark Johnson will be stepping away from that position to take on a new role as President and CEO of Oregon Business and Industry.  Johnson accepted the position with the business lobbying group that came together when Associated Oregon Industries and the Oregon Business Association merged this summer.  The Hood River Republican said he did not seek the position and had planned to seek re-election to the seat he has held since 2011.  Johnson has not yet officially resigned his legislative position, but he hopes to continue through the end of October, especially as the Gorge Recovery Task Force begins its meetings this week.  He officially starts his OBI job on November 1.  Once he resigns commissioners of the three counties in District 52, Hood River, Clackamas, and Multnomah, will have 30 days to appoint a replacement.  Johnson said he will continue in his position on the Hood River County School District board.

The Dalles City Council denied a protest from Gorge Aviation Services over the request for proposal for fixed based operator services at the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport in Dallesport.  One allegation was that the lease agreement between GAS and the City and Klickitat County was wrongfully terminated, and another involved posting of the RFP on the City website, which is optional under City’s local contract review board rules.  Mayor Steve Lawrence says the Council agreed with City Attorney Gene Parker’s recommendation.  The initial date to open the RFP’s was October 5, but notice had not been placed in The Dalles Chronicle until its October 8 edition, which pushed back the opening to October 19.  In other business…the Council approved an Enterprise Zone Tax Abatement Agreement with Columbia Phytotechnology, otherwise known as Powderpure, that Wasco County approved last week, and extended the exclusive negotiating agreement with Tokola Properties for the redevelopment of the Tony’s Town and Country building downtown for 120 days.

Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation this week began onsite work toward developing a lot the City of Hood River rezoned this past spring for an affordable housing project.  Work by geotechnical engineers and surveyors will keep the Morrison Park property on 20th and Wasco closed through Wednesday.  The City Council approved the rezoning of the property from open space/public facility to high density residential to partner the housing corporation and Mid-Columbia Housing Authority on the project.  Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation executive director Joel Madsen says the work this week will provide information on what is possible on the site, adding they would like to preserve open space and natural features, create multi-modal connectivity to and from the site, and develop affordable homes.

Boys Soccer Horizon Christian 8, Central Christian 0   Volleyball Zillah def. Goldendale 25-18, 23-25, 25-23, 25-22  

The Community Action Team of The Dalles made its biannual trip to Washington, D.C. last month.  The group made up of representatives from various governmental agencies makes the journey to keep local projects and needs on the radar for federal assistance.  Part of the goal of this trip was to emphasize getting two million dollars earmarked for economic development when the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area when it was established in 1986 to the states.  Port of The Dalles Executive Director Andrea Klaas says impacts of the Eagle Creek Fire might be helping move those funds out.  But a challenge in getting the funds is waiting for high-level administration positions to be filled so agencies can move ahead with their plans.

Oregon State Park camping rates will go up by two dollars for some types of campsites effective at the start of November.  The Oregon Legislature approved the increase as part of the 2017-19 Oregon Parks and Recreation Department budget, and the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission approved the rate increase at its September 2017 meeting.  The rate for a typical full hookup RV site at the state’s most popular campgrounds will rise to $30 per night, and basic yurts will go from $40 to $42.  Rates will also rise by the same $2 amount for deluxe yurts, basic and deluxe cabins, electric sites, and hiker-biker camping areas.  Tent camping rates, currently $17-$19 per night, will not change.

Football Redmond 30, Hood River Valley 20 Rainier 43, The Dalles 0 Columbia 48, Seton Catholic 7 LaCenter 64, Stevenson 32 Dufur 54, Sherman 22 Perrydale 64 South Wasco 6 Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 50, White Swan 22 LaSalle (Yakima) 27, Goldendale 0   Cross Country Hood River Valley finished first and The Dalles fourth in the girls’ team standings of the Champoeg Invitational.  HRV’s Josephine Dickinson won the race, with Frances Dickinson taking fourth.  Hannah Ziegenhagen was eighth for The Dalles.  In the boys’ run, HRV was second to Franklin and The Dalles was third.  Braxton Wilson was fourth for HRV, and Rey Aviluz 11^th for The Dalles.   Boys Soccer Hood River Valley 2, Franklin 2:  The Quakers converted on a late penalty kick to tie the Eagles.  Saul Chavarria and Westley Carter scored for HRV. Prescott at Trout Lake, 2:30 p.m.   Girls Soccer Hood River Valley 1, Franklin 1:  Mira Olson scored the Eagles goal on an assist from Claire Davies, but the Quakers got the equalizer in the second half.   Volleyball Sherman def. Condon-Wheeler 25-7, 25-17, 25-21