Final classification for forestlands within Wasco County was adopted by the Hood River-Wasco Counties Forestland Classification Committee this week.  Two public hearings were held in December seeking public input before finalizing the classification.  Beginning July 1 all classified forestland in Wasco County will be included in the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Forest Patrol and will have wildland fire protection provided by ODF’s Central Oregon District.  Landowners who receive this service will see a Forest Patrol Assessment on their county tax statement later this fall.  The final classification was filed with the Wasco County Clerk’s Office Thursday, initiating a thirty-day appeal period for the classification.  Any landowner who is aggrieved by the classification may appeal in Circuit Court.

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.1% in December, edging down from 4.2% in November, marking the 20th consecutive month of declines in the state’s unemployment rate.  Nonfarm payroll employment in Oregon rose by 8,200 in December, following a revised gain of 9,200 jobs in November, and State Employment Economist Gail Krumenauer says that capped a strong year of job growth.  Krumenauer did say the impact of the Omicron variant on jobs would not be reflected in these numbers.  If there is a significant impact, that will be reflected in January numbers to be released in early March.

The annual Eagle Watch at The Dalles Dam Visitor Center will take place on Friday and Saturday the next two weeks.  Corps park rangers and partners from the U.S. Forest Service and the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center will provide activities, educational programs, live raptor viewings, and eagle watching.  The Dalles Lock and Dam Park Ranger Heather Clemons says every winter around 60 bald eagles migrate from Canada and Alaska in search of food, and the area around the dam provides a secluded area for them.  The Dalles Dam Visitor Center is located just north of Interstate 84 at exit 87, then east on Bret Clodfelter Way.  The event will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays the next two weeks.  All activities will take place outside.

White Salmon City Councilors extended their moratorium on new short-term rental properties at their meeting on Wednesday to allow for more time to finish work on new STR regulations. The moratorium extension was approved for six months, but Mayor Marla Keethler says it will expire when the new regulations are adopted and go into effect in the latter part of February. The moratorium extension was approved unanimously. The Council received no comment on the moratorium extension during a hearing before the vote.

Wrestling

Hood River Valley 66, Columbia 4

Hood River Valley 39, Riverside 33

Riverside 54, Columbia 15:  HRV’s Connor Tennant and Columbia’s Sawyer Muehlbauer each won two matches on the night.

Hood River County Commissioners met with Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer to discuss a set of legislative concepts being put forward by Blumenauer and Senator Ron Wyden on recreation enhancement, wildfire resiliency, and conservation of Mt. Hood and the Columbia River Gorge.      Commissioners had wide ranging questions and concerns, but many revolved around forest management, wildfire, and the impact on adjacent County forestlands.  County Forester Doug Thiesies told Blumenauer the focus might be on federal lands, but any action leads to collateral effects and risk for the County’s land holdings.  Commissioner Arthur Babitz offered that his experience with the Forest Service is that it’s funding and money that’s needed rather than new departments and designations.  Blumenauer told the Commission the federal government needs to change its approach to managing federal lands and should spend more on that, but it is a hard sell in Congress.  Commission Chair Mike Oates invited Blumenauer to take a tour of the County forestlands to see how they are used and managed.

Wasco County Commissioners reached consensus on moving forward on a process to determine the distribution of the Community Service Fee from the latest Strategic Investment Plan agreement with Google for two new data centers on former aluminum property land, but also recommended looking at a 50-50 split between the taxing districts impacted and funding potential “greater good” projects.  Earlier, The Dalles City Council recommended a proportional distribution of all monies to the taxing districts.  Commissioner Scott Hege noted this is simply a recommendation, but he liked the idea of splitting the use of the funds.  The next step is for the team that negotiated the deal with Google to bring together all the taxing districts to hash out an agreement.

Hood River County Commissioners have opted to look at a more minimal sized boundary for a community boundary for Odell, but also examine whether an expansion into low-value farmland is feasible and seek a rule change at the state level that prevents urban growth boundaries within ten miles of each other.  The County has been readdressing the subject in an effort to create more housing options.  Commissioners considered a variety of options, all of which come with uncertainties.  Commissioner Les Perkins suggested the possible expansion into what was described as mainly pasture land, and Commissioner Arthur Babitz concurred it should be studied.  County Planning Director Eric Walker told Commissioners he would look into it further, adding there would be a significant planning process and funding to consider.

Hood River County Health Department Health Director Trish Elliott says the County had recorded 357 COVID-19 cases between January 1 and January 18, and it will likely be the heaviest month of cases for the pandemic.  Elliott told County Commissioners that number is probably higher with home testing that is taking place.  Elliott said Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital beds have been full at times, but added that number fluctuates daily.  County COVID-19 Coordinator Daron Ryan told the Commission they are still seeing high numbers turning out for vaccine clinics, especially on weekends.  She added the Federal Emergency Management Agency will return to the County to do mass vaccine clinics for two weeks in February and two weeks in March.

Gilliam County is leaving North Central Public Health District.  The Gilliam County Court voted to form its own health department to start on July 1.  County Commissioner Pat Shannon, who is also on the NCPHD Board of Health, said the health community in his county felt the distance involved made it difficult to get the services they feel they should be getting.  Shannon added a feasibility study determined the County could provide those services more efficiently.  North Central Public Health District was formed in 2009 by Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam counties, forming the state’s only three-county public health district.  Board of Health Chair and Wasco County Commissioner Kathy Schwartz said the Oregon Health Authority will work with Gilliam County to move forward with developing their programs.