The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic will be at the Hood River County Fairgrounds through next Saturday.  Even though Hood River County continues to be at the top of the state’s vaccination rates with nearly 89 percent of those 18 and over receiving at least one dose, County Health Department Director Trish Elliott says they want to get more second dose and booster shots done.  The vaccination clinic at the Fairgrounds will be over from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through February 19.  It will then go to The Dalles beginning February 21.

Mid-Columbia Center for Living and PacificSource Community Solutions have reached an agreement that will see PacificSource provide Center for Living $2 million in two payments between now and August to help the facility continue to provide services to Columbia Gorge Community Care Organization members and help mitigate the Center’s financial challenges  Center board member and Wasco County Commissioner Scott Hege says they have been providing the services at a loss, and this will allow Center for Living to move forward, particularly toward filling currently vacant positions.  Hege noted like in many other sectors, it has been difficult to find mental health workers to fill vacancies.

There is a critical need for blood donations in the Pacific Northwest. Central and Eastern Oregon Red Cross Executive Director Nadine McCrindle says with the amount of blood drives lost to the pandemic and weather conditions the supply of blood is very low, down to a one day supply in some cases. Usually a five-day supply is available. McCrindle did say as pandemic restrictions wind down, they are hoping to see blood donations increase as people become more comfortable going out and doing things. To find Red Cross blood drive information, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS.

EWAC Boys Basketball Tournament First Round

Columbia (Burbank) 74, Goldendale 28:  The Timberwolves next play at River View on Friday evening at 6 p.m.

  Girls Basketball

Milwaukie 72, Hood River Valley 30

Washington 14th District State Representative Gina Mosbrucker says a package of four bills out of a much larger number presented by Republicans in regard to public safety have made it to the House floor.  The bills are in response to changes made last session in response to the Supreme Court’s Blake decision.  The Goldendale Republican says much of the content of these bills is to allow officers to act on reasonable suspicion, rather than requiring probable cause as in the court decision.  Mosbrucker adds the bills are primarily amendments Republicans tried to add to the legislation passed in 2021.

The state of Oregon announced on Monday that indoor mask mandates will be lifted no later than March 31, but local health officials are reminding people that it’s not time to discard them yet.  Hood River County Health Department Health Officer Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg says masks still need to be used indoors, emphasizing they work, noting drop in flu cases over the last couple of years.  Hood River County is hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic provided by the Federal Emergency Management Administration at the County Fairgrounds in Odell.  It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through February 19.

North Central Public Health District has distributed about 1,500 free home COVID-19 test kits to a number of entities in Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam counties to be given out to the community.  They are available at libraries, senior centers, and public health clinics.  People eligible for at-home test kits are those who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to a positive case.  Each test kit contains two tests, and people are asked to only take enough kits to have one test per person.  They are not intended for screening purposes such as travel or event attendance.  Test kits are also available for the public at the North Central Public Health District office in The Dalles.  Call 541-506-2600, and select the testing option to request a home test kit.

Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced Wednesday over $262 million is headed to Oregon to help the state recover from wildfires.  The U.S. Forest Service will allocate nearly $1.1 billion in disaster assistance funding nationally to support post-disaster recovery and other emergency needs as a result of natural disasters occurring over the past three years.  Merkley is Chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds the Forest Service.  National forests and grasslands will be provided with specific funding for selected projects that meet certain criteria.  This funding will also be used for state and private forestry programs to meet recovery needs on non-Federal lands in states that experienced damage from wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters.  This funding will also be allocated to complete data collection and program delivery tasks delayed by natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Boys Basketball

Hood River Valley 75, Crook County 64: The Eagles move into sole possession of second place in the Intermountain Conference with the win…as HRV got their lead up to 22 points in the third quarter before cruising to the victory.

Redmond 85, The Dalles 57:  The Riverhawks are now tied for third in the IMC with Ridgeview after falling to the conference leaders.

Horizon Christian 47, Lyle-Wishram 31

Dufur 78, Klickitat-Glenwood 9

  Girls Basketball

Crook County 52, Hood River Valley 37

Redmond 49, The Dalles 37

Trout Lake 59, South Wasco 28

Dufur 55, Klickitat-Glenwood 25

Central Christian 23, Horizon Christian 14

Sherman 32, Bickleton 26

SW Washington Class 2B District Tournament:  Ilwaco 56, Stevenson 22

Wasco County Commissioners are starting to look ahead toward preparing a budget for the 2022-23 Fiscal Year.  And one of the large topics of discussion is what to do with over $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars, half of which is in hand and the rest coming soon.  Commissioner Scott Hege says the federal guidelines for use of the funds gives them quite a bit of leeway, and it is very wide open for use as revenue replacement.  He noted other agencies have expressed interest in receiving a portion of the funds.  Hege says the final payment of those funds will be coming in the next month or so.