Wasco County Commissioners voted Wednesday evening to tentatively reverse a county planning commission decision and deny Union Pacific’s application to create a new second mainline track and realign existing track in the Mosier area, pending development of findings of fact by county staff.  Commissioners were unanimous in the action, which came as the panel dealt with three different appeals including one by a group headed by Friends of the Columbia Gorge, another from the Yakama Nation, and a third by Union Pacific itself over conditions in the planning commission approval.  County Planning Director Angie Brewer had recommended in her staff report denial of the application if Commissioners felt it would adversely impact treaty rights, which under County ordinances requires denial.  All three Commissioners cited testimony from the Yakama Nation before taking the vote.  The decision came with Commissioners knowing it would be appealed regardless of their conclusion.  Union Pacific Vice President of Law Bob Bell claimed the Interstate Commerce Act pre-empts County land use law, but Friends of the Gorge attorney Gary Kahn countered that the County was bound to follow the requirements of the National Scenic Area Act.  The Commission will decide on findings and take a final vote on November 10.

Oregon Class 5-A Boys Soccer First Round Hood River Valley 2, Putnam 1:  The Eagles used a pair of goals in the first half to run their unbeaten streak to 51 games.  Robbie Running and Jorge Campos were the goal scorers for the Eagles in the first half.  HRV then had to withstand a late challenge from Putnam to hold on for the win.  The Eagles will host LaSalle in a quarterfinal match on Saturday at Henderson Stadium.   Southwest Washington Class 1A District Volleyball Tournament Columbia loses to Montesano 3 sets to 1 Columbia defeats Forks 3 sets to 0:  The Bruins won their second match of the night to stay in the hunt for a state tournament invitation.  Columbia will meet King’s Way Christian Saturday at 10 a.m. in Castle Rock, with CHS needing to win two matches that day to advance to state.

The Wasco County Fair and Rodeo will be a weekend later in 2017 than it has been in recent years.  The fair board voted unanimously to hold the fair August 24-27 in 2017, after seeing both attendance and revenue decline this year.  Fair officials say that in recent years the size, scope, and timing of the fair has forced many vendors, entertainers, stock contractors, rodeo participants, and service members to choose other communities over Wasco County.  They hope the date change will allow for increased access to many Northwest vendors and assist with better event planning for the entire county.  The date change will overlap with the Oregon State Fair, but five other counties in Oregon currently hold their fair during or after the State Fair, and Wasco County has done so in the past.  The fair board says pre-fair schedules and other alternatives allow for 4-H and others to participate in both, and they will actively pursuing these options.

Matthew Klebes has accepted the position of Assistant to the City Manager for the City of The Dalles.  Klebes has been director of the local Main Street program for the past three years, working closely with the City on various economic development projects.  Klebes has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Management.  He will be filling the position vacated by Daniel Hunter, who moved into the City’s Human Resources Director position in September.  Klebes first day with the City of The Dalles will be November 28.

A little more than one-third of voters in Wasco and Hood River counties have returned their ballots as the election season enters its final week.  Wasco County reports a return rate of 34.5 percent as of Wednesday morning, while Hood River County is at 36.7 percent.  Election officials in Oregon do remind people to drop off their ballots at County election offices or official drop boxes at this point as the mail is not guaranteed to get to them by election day.  In Hood River County, ballots can be taken to the County Administration Building on 601 State Street in Hood River or to the drop box at Cascade Locks City Hall.  In Wasco County, take ballots to the Courthouse on 511 Washington or the drop box at Maupin City Hall.  Also if a registered voter has not received a ballot by this point, go to your County election office and get another ballot.  In Washington, just over 29 percent of ballots have been returned in Skamania County and just over 24 percent in Klickitat County.

The Port of Hood River Commission has begun studying a range of options for tolls on the Interstate Bridge.  Commissioners were given possibilities ranging from no increase of current rates up to one dollar for BreezeBy customers and two dollars for cash tolls, similar to charges on the Bridge of the Gods in Cascade Locks.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says the next step is to take a deeper look at the fiscal impacts of those changes during the Commission’s November 15 fall planning session.  McElwee added the continued increasing cost of maintaining the bridge is one reason the tolls are being looked at, but another is developing funding for local matches for state and federal funding in planning tasks for an eventual replacement bridge.  The Port’s 2016-17 budget factored in a probable bridge toll increase sometime in the next year.

Registration to receive assistance through the Hood River County Christmas Project will begin this coming Friday and Saturday at the Department of Human Services office in Hood River.  Project organizer Bruce Holmson says they do have a number of eligibility requirements, most notably being a resident of Hood River County and meeting state low income eligibility standards.  A number of other registration dates will take place in November and early December at different locations throughout the County.  Go to hoodrivercountychristmasproject.com for the schedule.

A segment of Webber Street in The Dalles between First Street and Bargeway Road will be closed to all traffic from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm. both Thursday and Friday.  The Dalles Public Works Department will be installing new storm and sanitary service lines to the property west of the site.  Vehicles will be routed around the construction site using Terminal Street to connect West 1^st Street and Bargeway Road.  Pedestrian access to the sidewalk and some on street parking will be restricted.  All other motorists are encouraged to use the Port area overpass to access the Port and businesses on the west end of town.

Oregon Class 5-A Girls Soccer First Round Hillsboro 2, Hood River Valley 0:  The Spartans scored a goal in each half to advance in the state tournament.  Eileen Reyna scored in the 36^th minute to give Hillsboro the lead, while Sofia Guizer put home a feed from Madison Ellsworth a little more than four minutes into the second half for the second goal.  The Spartans played a solid defensive game, limiting HRV to very few chances, particularly after taking the lead.  The Eagles finish the season with an 11-4 record.   SCAC District Volleyball Tournament Goldendale def. Connell 25-22, 20-25, 25-13, 25-15:  The Timberwolves inched closer to a state tournament invitation with the victory on the road.  Goldendale meets Naches Valley on Saturday at noon at Kiona-Benton High School in a semi-final match.  The Timberwolves need to win one match on Saturday to advance to the Washington Class 1-A Tournament next week.   Hood River Valley’s Noe Magana was named player of the year to lead a group of five Eagles on the first team of the all-Columbia River Conference boys’ soccer team.  Jorge Campos, Angel Sonato, Erik Siekkinen, and Saul Chavarria were also named to the first squad, while Travis Running was named goalkeeper of the year.  The Dalles was represented on the first team by Omar Rodriguez and Brandon Bustamonte.   Cielo Rivera was named player of the year and Vanessa Silva goalkeeper of the year to lead the Hood River Valley contingent on the first team of the all-Columbia River Conference girls’ soccer squad.  Mona Diaz, Yahaira Chavarria, and Ami Santillan were also named to the first team.  For The Dalles Brooke McCall, Giselle Manzo, and Victoria Barragan were named to the first team.   In Columbia River Conference volleyball, Hood River Valley’s Shae Duffy was named player of the year, while the Eagles’ Scott Walker was tabbed as coach of the year.  HRV’s Emily Curtis, Katie Kennedy, and Rebecca Johnston were also selected to the first team, as was Jodi Thomasian of The Dalles.

Mid-Columbia Community Action is currently taking applications from senior and disabled residents in Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, and will open it up to the general public on December 1.  Community Action Executive Director Jim Slusher says they have received a similar funding allocation for the program that assists with heating bills as they have the last couple of years.  Senior and disabled residents who have not received a letter on the program and think they might qualify for assistance should call the CAP office in Hood River at 541-386-4027 or in The Dalles at 541-298-5131.  Appointments for the general public will begin to be scheduled at 8 a.m. on December 1, and Slusher advises people they will not be taking any calls for appointments before that time.