Sports Digest

Umpiring is a team effort with at least two officials working a game. All umpires are paid by the game.

Interested individuals should attend the first meeting at The Dalles Middle School in The Dalles on Monday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m., or contact Bob Ford at 541-980-4165.

Softball: The Mid-Columbia Softball Umpire Association (MCSUA) is recruiting men and women to umpire softball games during the 2011 prep softball season. The MCSUA covers games for local high schools in the Mid-Columbia area. While there are a few games on Saturdays, most games are Monday through Friday at 4 p.m. The season begins in March and ends in May. New umpires will be trained and start off officiating lower-level jayvee or freshmen games.

Umpiring is a team effort with at least two officials working a game. All umpires are paid by the game.

Interested individuals should attend the first meeting at Spooky’s Pizza restaurant in The Dalles on Thursday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m., or contact Bob Ford at 541-980-4165.

Climbing: Mount St. Helens climbing permits go on sale for the 2011 climbing season beginning at 9 a.m. on Feb. 1 on the Mount St. Helens Institute’s Web site, mshinstitute.org.

These permits are $22 per person, and are required for climbing between April 1 and Oct. 31 above 4,800 feet on Mount St. Helens.

Permits are available for pick up at Lone Fir Resort in Cougar.

Climbing permits are required year-round. They are free to an unlimited number of people planning their climb from November through March. From April 1 until May 14, an unlimited number of climbers can obtain permits for the $22 fee.

From May 15 until Oct. 31, there is a limit of 100 permits a day to help manage impact on the mountain’s natural regeneration.

Details about climbing Mount St. Helens are available online at www.fs.fed.us.