Hospitalization rates in the Gorge are climbing as COVID cases spike.  The North Central Public Health District reports that on January 3, there were just two people with COVID in the hospitals in The Dalles and Hood River.  But by this past Monday, there were thirteen.  District officials say not all of them are hospitalized due to COVID, but most are, with some having COVID but hospitalized for other reasons.  On Tuesday, all ten ICU beds at Mid-Columbia Medical Center and Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital were full, and 46 of the 50 non-intensive care hospital beds were full.

Oregon Second District Congressman Cliff Bentz reiterated his opposition to the Rivers Democracy Act that would add 4,700 miles of rivers in the state to the “Wild and Scenic” designation.  Bentz said on the House floor his most dire concern was the level of bureaucracy the bill would place on areas already at risk of wildfire, and delay treatment activities needed now.  Bentz also felt there was inadequate local input in the bill’s creation, and a lack of protections for sustainable use of the land surrounding the watersheds.  Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley introduced the bill last year.  They say it would expand access to jobs-creating recreation statewide, reduce wildfire risks, and protect existing property, grazing and irrigation rights.

A bill sponsored by Washington 14th District Representative Gina Mosbrucker to require the state commerce department and the Utilities and Transportation Commission to hold annual stakeholder meetings to discuss the adequacy of the state’s energy resources received a committee hearing on Tuesday.  Mosbrucker says the purpose would be to prevent rolling blackouts experienced by California and Texas.  The measure would require this year’s meeting to specifically address locations in Washington that would be at risk of inadequate electric supplies, and policy recommendations to prevent rolling blackouts and identify incentives to enhance energy adequacy and reliability.

Hood River County health officials say they are seeing an increase in people seeking out either a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or a booster shot.  County COVID-19 Response Coordinator Daron Ryan says a combination of the end of the holidays and the transmissibility of the Omicron variant has led to a bump in demand.  She says over 88 percent of the County’s population over the age of 18 have been vaccinated, and 42 percent has received either a third dose or booster.  Ryan says figures for pediatric vaccinations are harder to determine, but she added the County’s health partners have administered a large amount of those shots, and demand has slowed.

The Klickitat County Health Department says it was notified Tuesday that the COVID-19 Omicron variant has been identified in the county. The variant information was gathered through the Washington state public health surveillance program. KCHD says it will continue to respond to COVID-19 with the current course of action. That includes encouraging community members to get vaccinated in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Community members can schedule their vaccinations online through KCHD at or by calling NorthShore Medical, Skyline Health, or Klickitat Valley Health for a vaccine appointment.

Boys Basketball

Hood River Valley 81, Banks 79:  Clayton Cook scored 21 points and Emanuel Romero added 17 as HRV held off a late charge by the Braves to win.  The Eagles made 13 three-point field goals.  Cooper Gobel scored 31 to lead Banks.

Horizon Christian 73, Lyle-Wishram 15

South Wasco 88, Trout Lake 25

  Girls Basketball

Banks 54, Hood River Valley 24:  Madison Walker and Hailey Evans scored 12 points apiece for the victors.  Megan Griggs led the Eagles with 7.

LaCenter 62, Columbia 34

Rainier 68, Stevenson 22

Horizon Christian 58, Lyle-Wishram 33

South Wasco 50, Trout Lake 43 (OT)

 

The Dalles City Council passed a motion Monday night setting up the process for determining how Community Service Fees are distributed as the result of a Strategic Investment Plan with Google as the company plans to build two new data centers on former aluminum plant property it acquired.  The team that negotiated the SIP called for representatives of all the taxing districts to meet to determine final plans to send to Business Oregon, which Wasco County’s Administrative Services Director Matthew Klebes pointed out is similar to what other communities who have done these plans have done.  The motion approved by Councilors agrees with a negotiating committee recommendation for the community service fees to be distributed to taxing districts consistent with their local option rate authority.  Wasco County Commissioners will consider the issue on January 19.

The Dalles City Council approved a zoning ordinance amendment to allow shelter housing in both Commercial General and Commercial Light Industrial districts.  Councilors held a hearing on the amendment a month ago, and the version they approved did remove a Planning Commission recommendation to make shelter housing a conditional use rather than allowable outright.  City Senior Planner Dawn Marie Hert says they will bring that subject back to the Council for review next year.  The amendment helps pave the way for Mid-Columbia Community Action’s plans to build a navigation center.

Hood River City Councilors heard a presentation on Monday evening from the development group they are currently in negotiations with to create an affordable housing development on city-owned property at 780 Rand Road.  While hearing about building plans, the Council was told by Community Development Partners Director of Development Jessica Woodruff that an Agricultural Working Housing Tax Credit of $1.9 million won’t be available to this project.  She says if they have to they will add that amount to the Local Innovation and Fast Track, or LIFT, Rental Program tax credits application they will be making to the state, but will also research other options.  Woodruff says this kind of change is not uncommon, and they can still make the deal work.

The Next Door is hoping to open a planned drop-in center for youth at its office in The Dalles soon.  Next Door Executive Director Janet Hamada says they have done two pop-up events in the last couple of months that were successful.  The opening of the center itself has been delayed by the pandemic, but she did say they are planning some kind of soft opening soon.  Hamada added they came to the conclusion that if they don’t open, it would be worse, so they need to operate to provide the youth what they truly need.  The center will be for youth going through any kind of issues to be in a safe place with food, activities, and services available.