Wasco County is seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases. North Central Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell says it’s been over the past week that cases have increased. McDonell says they are starting to see spikes within three to five days of people getting together. She adds the district is planning to offer more vaccination clinics in the upcoming days and weeks. Go to ncphd.org to learn more and sign up.

The Oregon Department of Forestry will receive more than $2.2 million in federal funds to help cover costs from fighting the August 2020 Mosier Creek Fire that destroyed eight homes and threatened hundreds of others.  The offices of Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley made the announcement on Thursday.  The $2.22 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is for state Forestry Department expenses for the fire that began on August 12, 2020, two miles south of Mosier.  The fire grew over two days to 985 acres, threatening 662 residences, one commercial property, along with power lines, and natural resources.  Eight residences and 28 other structures, along with some outbuildings, were destroyed by the blaze.

Columbia Gorge Community College is going through the process of getting its aviation maintenance program approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.  CGCC Dean of Career and Technical Education Mary Kramer says they are working with the FAA to ensure the curriculum is to the agency’s liking and that all required processes and procedures are in place.  Kramer says the FAA reviewed the initial documents CGCC submitted and returned them this week.  The college will make edits the FAA has requested, resubmit, and then the agency will visit the school to do a teaching observation and a complete inspection of facilities.  Kramer adds the goal is to have the program certified in mid-March and starting it this summer.

Klickitat County Undersheriff Tim Neher has announced that he will run for the sheriff’s position in the upcoming 2022 election.  In a statement announcing his candidacy, Neher said the Sheriff’s Office is facing many challenges to overcome, including over half of the deputies in the department being able to retire, the law enforcement field becoming more challenging, and a growing Klickitat County population leading to increasing calls for service.  Neher has worked for the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office since January 2010, with ten years as a patrol deputy, about 18 months as a detective, and the last 7 months as Undersheriff.  Prior to entering law enforcement, Neher says he worked in the corporate world in various supervisory and management positions.

Fishing for steelhead will remain closed into next year for the mainstem Columbia River from The Dalles Dam upstream to the Oregon-Washington border and in all or parts of several mid-Columbia tributaries, including the Deschutes, John Day, Umatilla, and Walla Walla River in Oregon to protect the summer steelhead return that includes ESA-listed fish.  Summer steelhead from 2021’s record low upriver run remain present in the mainstem Columbia and tributaries above The Dalles Dam.  The passage of approximately 67,750 fish at Bonneville Dam this year was 70 percent of the forecast and the lowest return on record.  The extended closure is meant to protect this run of fish that started entering the Columbia River in July 2021 and passed Bonneville Dam through October.  These fish are still making their way through the river system to the upper Columbia, Snake River and tributaries.  While recent summer steelhead returns have been poor, there are hopeful signs that conditions for salmon and steelhead may improve in the Columbia Basin in coming years.  The Pacific Northwest is in a La Nina cycle this season.  That means cooler ocean temperatures and more rain and snow that may help alleviate the drought and improve habitat conditions for salmon and steelhead.

The City of The Dalles Beautification Committee has announced the winners of their holiday display contest. The traditional division winner is at 922 East 10th. The futuristic division award goes to Cornerstone Church on 1313 Mt. Hood. And the grandiose award went to E.T. Holiday Lights on 3800 West 6th. The winners are receiving a custom ornament designed by The Workshop.

Wednesday Scores

Boys Basketball

The Dalles 58, Mac-Hi 39:  The Riverhawks pulled away early to grab the non-league victory.  Cooper Cummings scored 18 points, Jaxson Pullen 14, and Henry Begay 12 to lead the Riverhawks.

Horizon Christian 59, Griswold 26

  Girls Basketball

Griswold 41, Horizon Christian 27

 

The Dalles Bridge will be open over the holiday weekends. Full closures have been in place over the Highway 197 Bridge from Thursday evenings to Monday mornings, requiring motorists trying to cross the river to go to either Biggs or Hood River. But the Oregon Department of Transportation says it will be pausing the closures for the next two weekends to aid motorists traveling over the holidays. The weekend closures will resume the evening of January 6 and continue through the Memorial Day weekend. The closures are to accommodate construction of a new driving surface for the bridge, as well new railings and lighting.

North Central Public Health District is adding a COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Tuesday (December 28) to those already scheduled. NCPHD already had clinics set up for January 6 and 13. To book an appointment, visit ncphd.org or call 541-506-2600. First, second, and third doses and boosters from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are offered. Vaccines are free for everyone. The district says the additional clinic is in reaction to state projections that the highly transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19 is expected to lead to record hospitalizations by early February. Estimates are that Oregon hospitalizations could reach 3,000 COVID patients by early February, or 2,000 if measures are taken including widespread uptake of boosters, masking, and limiting gathering sizes. Both numbers are higher than the peak of 1,200 hospitalized during the Delta surge.

Klickitat County Commissioners are considering a plan for Commissioner districts that essentially leaves them as is for the next ten years. Commissioner David Sauter says the latest census shows growth in the County is relatively balanced, leaving no requirement for changes to keep populations in each district similar. Sauter said they took some public comment at their meeting on Tuesday, adding the Trout Lake Community Council has requested a revision. That community was split into two districts ten years ago. But time is an issue, as the County is supposed to have this completed by the end of the year. Sauter said he has asked staff to research what the consequences would be if they don’t approve the new map by December 31. The Commission considers the plan again at their meeting next Tuesday.