Columbia Lutheran School in The Dalles announced plans to expand its offering through the eighth grade beginning next school year.  The school’s current principal, Rev. Jesse Jacobsen, will continue in that role while also teaching in the school’s fifth to eighth grade classroom.  A release from the school indicates a second pastor will be brought in to take over the majority of pastoral duties Jacobsen has handled at Concordia Lutheran Church in Hood River, and Bethany Lutheran Church, where the school is located, in The Dalles.  Additional on the school is available at columbialutheranschool.org or by calling 541-701-9137.

Baseball Monarch (Colorado) 3, Hood River Valley 1:  HRV’s Patrick Harvey provided a solid outing on the mound for the Eagles in their opener at the Coach Bob Invitational in Phoenix, Arizona, but three errors cost HRV.  Harvey gave up just one hit in six innings pitched.   Softball Lebanon 14, Hood River Valley 13:  The Eagles came back from a 13-2 deficit after three innings, but could not pull out the win after giving up 12 runs in the third inning at their first game in the Battle of the Beach in Newport.  Zoe Munn drove in four runs to lead the comeback. Hood River Valley 3, Taft 1:  Hannah McNerney struck out nine to help the Eagles earn a split on the day.  Zoe Munn and Makena Zeller delivered run scoring doubles in the third inning to give HRV the lead they would not relinquish. The Dalles 11, Wilsonville 1 The Dalles 15, Crook County 5:  The Riverhawks swept their opening games at the Central Oregon Spring Break Hockinson 6, Stevenson 4   Boys Lacrosse Hood River Valley 11, Sheldon 4:  Bruce Ostler scored four goals and Cody Wheat three as the Eagles won their second straight game to begin the season.

The Port of Hood River closed on the second portion of the sale of the Expo Center property on the waterfront to Key Development.  Key will be putting new buildings on the property.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says that means the old Clark Door building that served as the Expo Center for a time will be coming down soon, noting that will be a landmark in the dramatic changes the Waterfront has undergone in the past few years.  Once the property is built out it will include a new facility for Turtle Island Foods, and then two new buildings.  

There are some deadlines coming up on to put in applications for the Northwest Cherry Festival set for April 22-24.  The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson says audition videos and audios for their new Northwest Cherry Idol singing competition on April 23, based on American Idol, will be taken through Thursday.  Farquharson says those wishing to audition should go to the Northwest Cherry Idol Facebook page for instructions.  Festival vendor and parade applications are also available at this time, and are on the thedalleschamber.com website.

Baseball Hood River Valley 5, LaSalle 4 The Dalles splits with Bend, losing game 1 8-1 and winning game 2 14-3 Umatilla sweeps Dufur 15-10 and 5-4 Dufur 2, Kennedy 0 Sherman sweeps Grant Union 9-6 and 12-11 Royal sweeps Goldendale 4-0 and 2-1 in 10 innings   Softball The Dalles sweeps Bend 10-3 and 13-3 Lyle-Wishram sweeps White Swan 20-13 and 17-13   Boys Golf The Dalles finished third behind Clackamas and Pendleton in the Riverhawk Invitational at The Dalles Country Club.  The Riverhawks’ Chase Snodgrass shot an 80 to win medalist honors.   Boys Tennis Goldendale 2, Wahluke 2 Goldendale 2, Royal 0   Girls Tennis Goldendale 5, Wahluke 0 Goldendale 5, Royal 0   Boys Soccer Columbia 5, Washougal 2   Boys Lacrosse Hood River Valley 12, Camas 10

The Gorge Community Foundation is looking to expand its presence in the eastern part of the region.  The non-profit organization has its roots in the Hood River area, building permanent charitable endowments to help fund long-term needs in the region and representing over 70 funds established by local families, individuals and organizations.  Foundation executive director Dan Spatz says most of those funds are in the Hood River area, and the Foundation hopes to increase its efforts elsewhere in the Mid-Columbia.  Spatz says the biggest task in all likelihood is to create more awareness of the Foundation, which was established in 2000.  The Gorge Community Foundation’s website is gorgecf.org.

The Dalles Public Works will begin work Monday to replace the sanitary sewer line and install a new storm line in Trevitt Street between 7th Street and 9th Street.   Work will take place weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. through April 1.  For the duration of the project Trevitt Street will be closed from 7th to 9th Streets to all traffic, including emergency vehicles, with no parking allowed along either side of Trevitt Street in the immediate work area.  Motorists are encouraged to use Bridge and Garrison Streets as alternative routes to avoid the work area.  8th Street residents will need to use Bridge Street for access to their homes, as 8th Street will be closed at the intersection with Trevitt Street.  If you have questions or concerns, call The Dalles Public Works office at (541) 296-5401, extension 2001.

Softball Gresham 5, Hood River Valley 4:  The Gophers scored two runs in the sixth inning and one in the seventh to come back for the win.  HRV took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning on Zoe Munn’s three-run double.  The Eagles fall to 1-2 on the season. Beaverton 11, The Dalles 4:  The Beavers tallied seven unearned runs that were the difference in the game.  The Riverhawks are now 1-1 on the year. Corbett 9, Stevenson 0   Baseball Stevenson 17, Corbett 4   Track and Field Four athletes won two events as most area schools started their season at the Leavitt-Mullen Invitational at Sid White Field.  Hood River Valley’s Parker Irusta and Sebastian Barajas each won two events in the boys’ competition, while HRV’s Audrey Marble and South Wasco’s Ana Popchock each won a pair in the girls’ half of the meet.   Boys Tennis Madras 5, The Dalles 3 Hood River Valley 7, St. Helens 1   Girls Tennis The Dalles 4, Madras 4 (The Dalles wins on sets 10-9) Hood River Valley 7, St. Helens 1   Girls Lacrosse Hood River Valley 12, Grant 9:  The Eagles came back from an 8-5 deficit with 20 minutes to play to win their season opener.

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden and Congressman Earl Blumenauer have introduced legislation to increase outdoor recreation access for visitors to boost rural economies.  The bill dubbed the “Recreation Not Red Tape” Act expedites the permitting process for recreation guides and makes it easier for visitors to get recreation use permits by making all park passes available online while focusing on getting more veterans, seniors and young people outdoors, and making a certain number of free park passes available to low-income schools.  It would also require the Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to promote recreation when making land and water management decisions.  Wyden says the goal is to make it easier for all to enjoy public lands.  The bill would also direct the federal land management agencies to study the full impacts of outdoor recreation on the economy, including how recreation creates job growth, tourism opportunities and boosts local economies.

The Dalles Main Street Program and Fort Dalles Fourth have established a “GoFundMe” account as they try to get to three-thousand dollars and get a matching amount from a donor to help pay for fireworks on the Fourth of July.  Matthew Klebes of The Dalles Main Street says they have to get to three-thousand dollars by the end of March.  To donate go to gofundme.com/fortdallesfourth, get the link from the Fort Dalles Fourth Facebook page, or go to the Main Street office in the MINT Building in downtown The Dalles.