Construction is about to start on a 1.3 mile section of the Historic Columbia Highway State Trail from Lindsey Creek to Starvation Creek trailhead.  Work on the extension will also close a single lane of eastbound Interstate 84 near the Starvation Creek Trailhead at exit 55.  Trail access from west of Starvation Creek rest area will be closed on weekdays along with the Mt. Defiance, Starvation Ridge, and Starvation Ridge Cutoff trails.  They will be open on weekends and holidays.  All trails leading into the construction area will be posted with signs indicating closure.

Boys Basketball Stevenson 71, Columbia 50:  The Bulldogs scored 41 first half points on the way to the win.  Austin Brennan scored 20 points for the Bulldogs, while Alex Delarosa contributed 12 points and dished out 10 assists.  Jabal Gilbert topped Columbia with 19 points.   Girls Basketball Stevenson 43, Columbia 39:  Madison Krog scored 18 points and Amya St. Martin chipped in 11 to pace the Bulldogs.  Lauren Thiesies led the Bruins with 10.

The access road to the Spit recreational site in Hood River’s waterfront area is closed to vehicle traffic until further notice.  Port of Hood River officials say it is a temporary closure for an undetermined period of time.  The exceptionally wet winter has caused significant damage to the road, which provides the only vehicular access to the parking area for the Spit.  The road will be closed to all but construction vehicles until it can be repaired.  Pedestrian access is still allowed.  Users of the Spit recreational area can park at the Marina Beach parking area and walk across the Hood River Pedestrian Bridge.

It may only be January, but many school administrators are thinking about recruiting teachers for next year.  White Salmon Valley School District Superintendent Jerry Lewis has begun his recruitment work, saying at this point the lack of qualified teachers is a crisis in Washington, and the district wants to be out in front of the pack in recruitment.  Lewis says districts can’t compete for teachers based on pay with the state salary schedule, so they have to differentiate themselves in large part by finding people who want to come to the Gorge.  But he quickly adds the cost of housing in the region is as big a hurdle in hiring teachers as a shortage of candidates is.

Boys Basketball Summit 87, The Dalles 23:  Cam Baker scored 21 points and pulled down 15 rebounds to lead the Storm to the win.  Summit’s defense limited The Dalles to a 19 percent shooting night from the field.  Colin Noonan led  The Dalles with 12 points. Castle Rock 52, Columbia 37 South Wasco 58, Horizon Christian 49 Lyle-Wishram 51, Trout Lake 37:  Dylan Uribe tallied 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Cougars. Mabton 54, Goldendale 47   Girls Basketball Gresham 50, Hood River Valley 37:  The Gophers went on a 20-2 run in the second half to blow out a close game.  Madison Allen scored 18 of her 22 points in the second half for Gresham, while Marlie Bloomster topped HRV with 10. Columbia 43, Castle Rock 31:  Lauren Thiesies scored 13 points and Kayla McClain 11 as the Bruins won the Trico League game. Stevenson 40, King’s Way Christian 38 Horizon Christian 36, South Wasco 22 Lyle-Wishram 40, Trout Lake 10:  Lacy Carse scored 17 points for the Cougars, who prevented Trout Lake from scoring a second half field goal. Mabton 71, Goldendale 53

While much of the attention surrounding the Hood River County School District’s decision making to go out for a bond measure in May has focused on whether or not to build a new elementary school, the measure could include improvements to the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics program facilities at Wy’east Middle School.  Superintendent Dan Goldman says the STEM program at Wy’east is trying to operate out of the wood shop, while Hood River Middle School has updated facilities.  Goldman says the project would be a combination of renovating current space and adding building capacity.  The district board will be making decisions in February on what to include in a bond measure on the May ballot.

Bingen is still looking to fill a City Council seat that has been vacant since October.  Mayor Betty Barnes says they are awaiting applicants, and this is the time for a citizen who has thought about taking part in Bingen government to do so.  Applicants must have lived in Bingen for one year and be a registered voter.  Letters of interest and resumes will be accepted until the position is filled.  The Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of every month.  For more information on applying, contact Bingen City Administrator Jan Brending at 509-493-2122.

A portion of Thompson Street in The Dalles between East 16th and East 14th will be closed to thru traffic Wednesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The City Public Works Department will be installing new water lines in preparation for street paving this spring.  Motorists are encouraged to use Quinton Street or Morton Street as alternate routes.  Access to residences in the area will be maintained.  Some parking on Thompson Street will also be restricted.

Washington 14th District State Representative Gina McCabe has been appointed to serve as the assistant ranking member of the House Business and Financial Services Committee.  The committee considers issues related to licensing and regulation of businesses, insurance, state banks, credit unions, as well as consumer protection issues.  The Goldendale Republican was also recently appointed to the Council of State Governments – West, Public Safety Committee.  CSG – West is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization serving state legislators of both parties in 13 Western states.  The committee expects to be looking at strategies for dealing with the high cost of incarceration, operating a new prison, indigent defense standards, and private contractors versus government employees in the public safety sector.

Fort Dalles Days is being temporarily discontinued.  The Fort Dalles Days steering committee made the decision in the wake of the Fort Dalles Rodeo Association announcing in August 2015 they would suspend plans for its annual rodeo due to the sale of the rodeo grounds in west The Dalles.  That organization is looking for a location to build new rodeo facilities.  The Fort Dalles Days committee said once the rodeo resumes, there will be a call for people to meet and plan a new Fort Dalles Days event.  The Dalles Main Street is evaluating its major events during 2016, with a goal is to make sure these events are helping to accomplish Main Street’s mission of making downtown a vibrant place to live, shop, work and play.  The Main Street Board of Directors also hopes to identify a new promotion committee chair and volunteers to help accomplish event-related goals.