The Wasco County Commission voted to proceed with the purchase of 154 acres west of Chenowith Creek for $1.5 million. Formerly owned by Bert Hodges, Commissioner Scott Hege said the County has been looking at the property for a number of years. Hege says the purchase is a long-term vision…with the potential of using part of the land for an athletic complex to replace Kramer Field rather than on 35 acres in the Port area the County is to receive from Google as has been proposed by Mid-Columbia Medical Center. The acreage from Google could then be used to create jobs. Hege says there are plenty of hurdles to use of the land, with most of it in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, noting recreational facilities are not prohibited in the NSA. He added the purchase is being made with the future growth of the community in mind.