Members of The Dalles Community Action team recently made the group’s bi-annual trip to Washington, D.C. to pitch local projects to the state’s congressional delegation and federal staffers.  Port of The Dalles Executive Director Andrea Klaas, Port Commissioner Greg Weast, and The Dalles City Councilor Dan Spatz made this trip.  Klaas says the long-discussed effort to expand the City’s urban growth boundary was a primary focus, noting talks have begun to move in that direction.  City leaders have expressed concern for a decade that The Dalles could eventually fall out of compliance with state requirements for buildable lands inventories without expanding the UGB.

Football Redmond 48, Hood River Valley 20 Rainier 62, The Dalles 20 LaCenter 45, Stevenson 0 Dufur 58, Arlington 14 South Wasco 46, Monument/Dayville 6 Sherman 70, Mitchell/Spray 6 LaSalle 48, Goldendale 7 White Swan 40, Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 6   Volleyball Dufur def. Arlington 25-11, 25-13, 25-19 South Wasco def. Monument-Dayville 25-6, 25-23, 25-10 Mitchell-Spray def. Horizon Christian 25-20, 25-22, 25-17

The investigation is underway into what caused a fatal fire early Friday morning in the town of Klickitat.  Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office Chief Criminal Deputy Mike Kallio says one person was killed in the house fire.  That person’s identity has not yet been released.  The fire occurred in the 300 block of Main Street in Klickitat at around 2 a.m. Friday.  Crews from a number of departments in Klickitat County assisted Fire District 3 crews in battling the blaze.  Kallio says an investigation into the origin of the fire has begun.

Volleyball Ridgeview def. Hood River Valley 25-18, 25-15, 25-23 Dufur def. Ione 31-29, 17-25, 25-22, 22-25, 15-8 South Wasco def. Condon-Wheeler 25-16, 25-14, 25-17 Arlington def. Sherman 3 sets to 0 King’s Way Christian def. Columbia 3 sets to 1 Castle Rock def. Stevenson 3 sets to 0   Boys Soccer Horizon Christian 6, Oregon State School for the Deaf 2   Girls Soccer Seton Catholic 2, Stevenson 1   Girls Water Polo Hood River Valley 15, Hillsboro 5  

Mid Columbia Interagency Narcotics Task Force have arrested a 42-year-old Hood River man on charges involving the sale of heroin.   Steven Haracourt was arrested after MINT team members executed a search warrant at his motorhome parked in the area of Post Canyon Drive and Westwood Drive in Hood River County.  Haracourt is charged with Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession and Delivery of Heroin, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Restricted Weapon, and was lodged at NORCOR in The Dalles.   MINT officers say this is an ongoing investigation, and anyone with information related to case is encouraged to call the MINT tip line at 541-296-1885.  MINT is comprised of law enforcement officers from The Dalles City Police, The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, and The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office.

The Wasco County Commission heard opinions on Measure 97 Wednesday, but they won’t be offering any position as a group.  Commissioners had received a request to pass a resolution opposing the measure that would place a gross sales tax on companies generating 25 million dollars in annual sales in the state.  But Commission Chair Rod Runyon noted they were advised by County Counsel and the Oregon Association of Counties that state law prohibits them from passing any kind of resolution on a ballot measure.  The meeting did provide a forum for people to express opinions on Measure 97, with many in opposition to it, but there was some who spoke in favor of the proposal.

The White Salmon City Council has sent a decision on basic design for a building for the proposed new swimming pool back to the committee that has been working on it.  Design consultants have provided three options: utilitarian, modern, and traditional.  Mayor David Poucher says the Council gave the direction to lean utilitarian for cost reasons, and the pool committee felt they needed to get more information.  Poucher noted the Council does not feel pressed to make a decision, adding it is doubtful they would try to put a bond measure for the pool on the February 2017 ballot.

The Performing Arts Initiative is expecting to get a feasibility study back on the group’s concept of a 600-seat performing arts center with classrooms and studios in the Gorge sometime in November.  The group’s Mark Steighner says ECONorthwest is working on the study.  Steighner says while that is taking place, the group is preparing to fundraise for the 200-thousand dollars needed for the first phase of the project.  The group is taking donations through the Gorge Community Foundation.  Information is available at the Performing Arts Initiative website, gorgeperformingarts.org.

New campaign finance filings show Nike co-founder Phil Knight gave at least $330,000 to Republicans running for positions in the Oregon legislature, with the largest share going to a Hood River candidate.  The Register-Guard reports that the wealthiest man in Oregon, Phil Knight, gave thousands in personal campaign contributions to seven Republican candidates in battleground districts last month, including an $80,000 donation to 52nd District incumbent Mark Johnson.  Knight’s other contributions went to another incumbent and five newcomers seeking open House seats, with the others receiving between $25,000 and $50,000.  It’s unusual for Knight to provide sizeable donations only to Republicans.  The last time he personally donated to Oregon legislative races was in 2012, when he gave $55,000 to 10 Democrats and $75,000 to 12 Republicans.  In 2014, he gave $250,000 to Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber.  Knight didn’t respond Tuesday to a request for comment about his recent contributions.

The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District has terminated the Regulated Closure for private lands in Central Oregon as of Wednesday morning, but fire season is still in effect.  Much of ODF’s The Dalles unit remains at Industrial Fire Precaution Level 1, which means operators can work all day, with a one hour fire watch required following operations.  All fire tools and water supplies are still required.  While restrictions on campfires and warming fires has been lifted, burn barrels and burning of debris may still be prohibited.  Check with your local fire agency for specifics.  District Forester Mike Shaw says with the weather forecast and current fuel conditions the risk of ignition has diminished, but the public is reminded to exercise caution when recreating and working in the woods.